LUCKNOW, Feb. 11 -- As Uttar Pradesh prepares to conduct one of the world's largest school examinations from February 18, Kaushambi district, once synonymous with mass copying in UP Board exams, is witnessing a notable shift in its reputation. No longer the primary flashpoint for alleged examination malpractices, the district's turnaround has prompted authorities to intensify monitoring in other sensitive pockets of the state.

Education department officials said the spotlight this year has moved to districts such as Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Hathras, Kasganj and Etah, which are among 18 districts identified as sensitive ahead of the high school and intermediate examinations. While Kaushambi continues to figure on the sensitive list, it is ...