The education ministry has taken steps for smooth holding of the examinations, which will remain out of the strike call by Progressive Student's Alliance.

Teachers will frisk the bodies of examinees at hall gate while local political leaders, student leaders and members of school managing committee will be barred from entering the exam centres during the test, sources said.

If copies are found with students during the examinations, they will face summary trials under the Public Examination Act, 1980, sources added.

Choppers will be kept ready to fly education ministry officials at examination centres, where cheating is reported.

This year, a total of 9,73,958 candidates are appearing at 1,723 examination centres across the country.

Of them, 7,61,960 appear in SSC examinations under seven education boards, 1,80,546 in Dakhil examinations under the Madrassah Education Board and 31,452 in SSC Vocational examinations under the Technical Education Board.

On the first day, examinees will sit for the test of English first paper.