The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), commonly referred to as the Maharashtra State Board, is the autonomous statutory body responsible for conducting school-level public examinations in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It administers the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination at the end of Class 10 and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination at the end of Class 12, and prescribes curricula for affiliated schools and junior colleges across the state.
| Full name | Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | MSBSHSE |
| Type | State examination board (statutory autonomous body) |
| Jurisdiction | Maharashtra, India |
| Headquarters | Pune, Maharashtra |
| Examinations | SSC (Class 10), HSC (Class 12) |
| Languages of instruction | Marathi, English, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu, Sindhi and others |
| Parent department | School Education and Sports Department, Government of Maharashtra |
| Curriculum framework | Aligned with Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research (Balbharati) |
Overview
The board functions under the Maharashtra Secondary Boards Act and operates through a central headquarters in Pune along with several divisional boards spread across the state. It is one of the largest school examination boards in India by candidate volume, conducting examinations for lakhs of students every academic year.
Divisional boards
For administrative decentralisation, MSBSHSE works through divisional boards, each handling examinations and affiliations within its region. The principal divisional boards are located at:
- Pune
- Mumbai
- Nagpur
- Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar)
- Kolhapur
- Amravati
- Nashik
- Latur
- Konkan (Ratnagiri)
Functions
- Conducting the SSC and HSC public examinations.
- Granting recognition and affiliation to secondary schools and junior colleges.
- Prescribing the syllabi and examination pattern in coordination with state curriculum authorities.
- Issuing mark sheets, passing certificates and migration certificates.
- Conducting revaluation, verification and supplementary examinations.
Curriculum and textbooks
Textbooks for schools following the state board are produced by the Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research, popularly known as Balbharati, headquartered in Pune. The curriculum is structured around the State Curriculum Framework, which itself draws upon the National Curriculum Framework. Subjects offered at the HSC level cover the Science, Commerce, Arts and Vocational streams.
Examinations
Secondary School Certificate (SSC)
The SSC examination is held at the end of Class 10 and serves as the qualifying examination for admission to junior colleges and various diploma courses. The examination typically takes place in February–March, with results declared in June.
Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)
The HSC examination is conducted at the end of Class 12 and serves as the basis for admission to undergraduate programmes in colleges and universities. It is offered in Science, Commerce, Arts and Vocational streams.
Medium of instruction
Schools affiliated with the board impart instruction in several languages. Marathi and English are the most widely used media, while Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu and Sindhi mediums are also recognised in regions with significant linguistic minorities.
Significance
MSBSHSE plays a central role in shaping school education in Maharashtra. The vast majority of government, aided and many private unaided schools in the state follow its curriculum. SSC and HSC certificates issued by the board are recognised across India for further education and employment, and are accepted by central and state recruitment agencies as proof of educational qualification.
Related topics
- Saraswati Vidyalaya, Ahmednagar
- Balbharati
- Education in Maharashtra
- Secondary School Certificate
- Higher Secondary Certificate
- Central Board of Secondary Education
- Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations
- School Education and Sports Department, Maharashtra
References
- Government of Maharashtra, School Education and Sports Department — official notifications on the constitution and functioning of the State Board.
- Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education — official communications regarding examinations and affiliation.
- Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research (Balbharati) — curriculum and textbook publications.