Chhattisgarh exam paper leak: IGKV cancels test, re-exam set for September

The government-run Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV) in Chhattisgarh's Raipur has cancelled the BSc Agriculture first-year Plant Pathology examination held on August 7 after a police investigation found that the question paper was leaked, officials said on Monday.

The decision was taken by IGKV Vice Chancellor Girish Chandel during an emergency meeting after investigators probing another paper leak discovered that the Plant Pathology paper had also been compromised.

Second paper leak leads to fresh cancellation

The development follows the August 20 leak of the second-year BSc Agriculture Entomology question paper. A professor and five students at a private college in Durg were arrested in connection with that case.

During the investigation, police found that the Plant Pathology paper had also been leaked. The university said the examination will now be held again in the first week of September. The re-examination for the leaked Entomology paper is also scheduled for the same period.

The university has issued a notice to the Durg college over alleged lapses in maintaining examination confidentiality. Show cause notices have also been sent to observers assigned to the Entomology and Plant Pathology examinations at the college.

“Strict disciplinary action will also be taken against students of the college detained by Raipur Police in connection with the August 20 paper leak,” an official said.

University changes question paper system

Following the Entomology leak, IGKV changed the way question papers are sent to affiliated colleges.

For the August 22 BSc examinations, papers were distributed through password-protected email instead of physical copies. Officials said the papers for the 10am examination reached colleges at 9.30am.

The same system will be used for examinations scheduled on Monday.

The university also plans to increase the number of CCTV cameras in its examination department and examination halls at affiliated colleges.

More security measures planned

Officials said IGKV is considering additional technology-based measures to improve the confidentiality, transparency and security of its examination process.

The university has assured that stringent steps will be taken to prevent further leaks.

The incidents in Chhattisgarh come amid wider concerns over examination irregularities in the country. In Jharkhand, student protests over alleged irregularities were suspended after Chief Minister Hemant Soren accepted most of the demands and announced cancellation of the examinations.

In July, protests over examination irregularities also led to the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.