Subject to the provisions of this Act, the powers and duties of the State Board shall be as follows, namely :-
(a) to advice the State Government on matters of policy relating to [secondary or higher secondary education] in general, and on the following matters in particular :-
(i) ensuring a uniform pattern of [secondary or higher secondary education];
(ii) maintenance of uniform standard of education in secondary schools [and junior colleges];
(iii) co-ordination between national policies and State policies in [secondary or higher secondary education];
(iv) co-ordination between [secondary or higher secondary education], university education and primary [* * * *] education;
[(b) to lay down guiding principles for determining curricula and syllabi and also to prepare the detailed syllabi for all standards of secondary and higher secondary education;]
[(c) * * * * *]
(d) to prescribe standard requirements in respect of staff, buildings, furniture, equipment, stationery and other things required for secondary schools [and junior colleges];
[(e) to prescribe any books as text-books, or to prepare or cause to be prepared any books and prescribe them as text-books, for all standards including the final standard [of secondary and higher secondary education];
(f) prescribe the general conditions governing admission of regular and private candidates to the final examinations, and to specify the conditions regarding attendance and character, on the fulfilment of which a candidate shall have a right to be admitted to and to appear at any such examination];
(g) to award certificates to candidates passing the final examination;
(h) to institute and award scholarships, stipends, medals, prizes and other rewards, and to prescribe conditions therefor;
(i) to receive bequests, donations, endowments, trusts and other transfer of any property, or interest therein, or right thereto;
(j) to hold any property, interest or right referred to in clause (i) above, and to manage and deal with the same;
(k) to demand and receive such fees as may be prescribed, from secondary schools [and junior colleges] recognised by the Divisional Boards;
(l) to call for special reports and information from the Director of Education or other officers of the Education Department, and any information from any secondary school [or junior college] recognised by a Divisional Board to ensure maintenance of academic standards in secondary [and higher secondary] education;
(m) to recommend measures to promote physical, moral and social welfare of students in institution recognised by the Divisional Board, and to prescribe conditions of their residence and discipline;
(n) to appoint officers and servants of the State Board (other than the Chairman, Secretary, Joint Secretary or Assistant Secretary) in its office and in the offices of the Divisional Boards, and to regulate the terms and conditions of their service;
(o) to constitute provident fund for the benefit of the officers and servants of the State Board;
[(p) to approve the annual financial statements pertaining to the State Board and the Divisional Boards and to recommend to the State Government for sanction, the annual budget];
(q) to inspect and supervise generally the working of the Divisional Boards and to inspect periodically the accounts thereof;
(r) to conduct statistical and other research for the purpose of evaluation and reform of the curricula, instruction and examination system;
[(r-1) to conduct correspondence and other non-formal courses leading to final examinations through variety of media including open school courses];
(s) to appoint such Committees as it may think necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions under this Act;
(t) to make regulations for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act;
(u) to make by-laws relating to matters such as procedure to be followed by the State Board and the Divisional Board, their Committees,
[* * * * *] and any other matter solely concerning the State Board and Divisional Boards and their Committees that are not provided for by this Act and the regulations made thereunder;
(v) to exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be conferred or imposed on it by or under this Act;
(w) to do all such acts and things as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.