TG BIE introduces barcoded OMR sheets, bans switching subjects in 2026 exams

For the 2026 intermediate exams, TG BIE bars students from switching subjects. Barcoded OMR sheets will replace blank ones to streamline evaluation. Hall tickets will include QR codes for exam centres, with previews sent via WhatsApp to parents and students.

Hyderabad: Students appearing for the intermediate public examinations commencing February 25, 2026, will not be allowed to switch their languages or subjects in the examination hall. Starting this year, students must appear for the examinations in the subjects that are mentioned in their hall tickets.

The Telangana Board of Intermediate Education (TG BIE) has taken this key decision to streamline the examination and evaluation process. Accordingly, the Board decided to do away with blank OMR sheets and introduce the OMR sheet printed with a unique Barcode that comes embedded with the students’ credentials.

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So far, students were permitted to switch languages or subject papers in the examination hall as the blank OMR sheets used to be distributed to students. However, this flexibility created confusion during the evaluation process as there were mismatches between the subjects mentioned on the hall tickets and the papers actually attempted by students.

Given these issues, the Board used to place such students’ results under the ‘withheld’ category until the issues were resolved, causing delays and anxiety among candidates. “We are doing away with the practice of switching papers in the examination hall. Students must appear for exams that have been mentioned in the hall tickets. Instead of blank OMR sheets, we will be giving bar-coded OMR sheets, which must be attached to the answer booklet,” said a senior TG BIE official.

Further, the Board decided to issue orders on the constitution of flying and sitting squads, and other staff required for holding the examinations. This is being done to ensure transparency in allotting examination duties, besides ruling out any favouritism.

Another new initiative from the Board is to make a preview of the hall ticket via WhatsApp. In a bid to enhance transparency and awareness among parents in connection with examinations, it has been decided to send a link to the registered WhatsApp number to enable a student or parent to preview the hall ticket.

Like last year, the hall ticket will have a QR code, which comes embedded with the exam centre location. This is to enable students to navigate to their respective centres with ease.