CBSE Paper Leak LIVE: Board Chairperson Says Decision to Reconduct Exam for Good of Students

The chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education has broken her silence on the paper leaks and said that the dates of the re-examination of the Class XII Economics and Class X Maths papers would be announced soon. “We have taken decision in favour of the students. We are working for their good,” she told reporters. She did not speak on why she did not scrap the Class X Maths paper despite receiving a copy of the leaked paper a day before the exam. 

The Delhi unit of All India Democratic Students' Organisation today demanded a high-level probe into the CBSE question paper leak case, and said it showed the board's "utter negligence" in conducting examinations fairly. The students' body staged a demonstration on Parliament Street against the leakage of papers of two subjects and accused the central government of making false claims in providing good governance. "We demand high-level inquiry into the leaks and appeal to the students and parents to initiate a movement till all the demands are met," AIDSO vice president Rahul Sarkar said.

The CBSE is expected to announce on Monday or Tuesday the next date of re-examination for Class 10 mathematics and Class 12 economics subjects, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said today, in the wake of paper leaks. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), in a circular yesterday, had said that students would have take the re-test for the two subjects. "The CBSE will declare what will be the next step in couple of days, probably on Monday or Tuesday," Javadekar told reporters here.

RR Upadhyay, special commissioner, crime branch confirmed that the exam paper were available on WhatsApp. “We are tracking how it originated and was transmitted. Two cases have been registered so far based on CBSE’s complaint,” he said.

Delhi Police are currently briefing the media on the paper leak. “Around 20 people, including students, have been questioned so far, We cant name any coaching institute right now,” says RR Upadhyay, Special Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch.

"The exam leaks destroy the hopes and futures of millions of students. The Congress always protected our institutions. This is what happens when institutions are destroyed by the RSS/BJP. Believe me when I say, this is only the beginning," tweets Rahul Gandhi:

The exam leaks destroy the hopes and futures of millions of students.

The Congress always protected our institutions. This is what happens when institutions are destroyed by the RSS/BJP.

Believe me when I say, this is only the beginning.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 29, 2018

The fear among parents and students is that the re-test will be purposefully tricky. Students, who say they’ve slept either three to four hours a night for months now, or not slept at all the nights before exams, are losing more sleep over this. “My daughter wanted to sleep, and have ice cream after her maths paper. She hadn't had ice cream in months so that she wouldn't get a sore throat,” said one parent who wanted to remain anonymous. “She's pretty depressed.”

An anonymous message calling for protests against CBSE’s decision to hold the Class X maths and Class XII economics papers again did the rounds on WhatsApp and Instagram on Wednesday night. As a result, about 50 students turned up at Jantar Mantar on Thursday morning. Sloganeering against CBSE, they all demanded that either the re-test of two papers be cancelled or the entire board exams be held again. A parent, Priya Jain, showed this reporter photos of a handwritten copy of the Biology question paper that circulated among parents and children. “It was out two days before the actual exam. We got the accounts paper while our children were inside the exam centre,” she said. With papers bouncing across Instagram and WhatsApp, students pointed out how easy leaks were thanks to social media. “It will take a person sitting inside CBSE two minutes to leak them,” said Pankaj.

CBSE examination question papers, it seems, are available dime a dozen. “There are messages in our inbox, and calls from unknown numbers offering exam papers for Rs 3,000 or Rs 4,000,” said Paras, one of the students protesting the CBSE’s decision to reconduct Class X maths and Class XII economics papers at Jantar Mantar on Thursday. “I got a message on Wednesday offering the Class XII political science paper for Rs 2,000 or Rs 3,000,” added his batchmate Pankaj, from SRS Mission School. “What is the guarantee that the re-tests won't be leaked?” he asked. Political Science is one of the upcoming Class XII CBSE board exams. The 10th and 12th CBSE board exams are under scrutiny after reports of question paper leaks spread like wildfire.

The Congress Party is demanding the sacking of Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar and CBSE chairperson Anita Karwal; calls for a probe by a high court judge into paper leak case.

“Dear Students, I fully understand your anguish, helplessness, anger and frustration. It is really painful that criminals do the wrong and the honest and brightest suffer. I can understand the pain & frustration of parents & children. Culprits will be nabbed soon and strict action will be taken. We are taking all measures to ensure that the exams remain fool-proof,” tweets HRD minister Prakash Javadekar:

Dear Students,
I fully understand your anguish, helplessness, anger and frustration. It is really painful that criminals do the wrong and the honest and brightest suffer. (1/2) @CBSEINDIA @HRDMinistry

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) March 29, 2018

I can understand the pain & frustration of parents & children. Culprits will be nabbed soon and strict action will be taken. We are taking all measures to ensure that the exams remain fool-proof. @CBSEWorld @HRDMinistry (2/2)

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) March 29, 2018

It is extremely disgraceful that the students of CBSE have to appear for re-exams because of someone else's fault. It is quite stressful for the students. Government should take strict action against the people responsible for this," says Shiv Sena chairperson Aditya Thackeray.

New Delhi: From carrying chits inside the exam hall to the 'Munnabhai formula' of using Bluetooth, cheaters have certainly kept up with technology.

The Delhi Police said they have registered two cases. The first case in connection with the leak of economics paper was lodged on March 27 while the case pertaining to mathematics paper was lodged on March 28, following a complaint by the regional director of CBSE. The cases were registered on charges of criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy.

On March 26, when the students sat for the Economics paper, the CBSE Academic unit at Rouse Avenue received an unaddressed envelope in the evening containing four sheets of handwritten answers of the Economics paper. "It was indicated in the papers kept inside the envelope that the question paper was leaked and circulated through WhatsApp group numbers," the complaint said. On Monday, panic had gripped students of Class 12 following claims on social media that the economics paper had been leaked even though the CBSE denied there was any slip-up.

The CBSE office had received an unaddressed envelope on March 26 containing four sheets of handwritten answers of the Class 12 Economics paper, the Board said in its complaint to the Delhi Police. CBSE further said that they received a complaint by fax on March 23 from an "unknown source" that a man running a coaching institute in Rajinder Nagar was involved in paper leakage. The complaint also named two schools in Rajinder Nagar for their involvement in the alleged leakage.

My joy knew no bounds as I came out of the examination hall after the Class X maths exam. Had a great sense of relief.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi today targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi by going into a rhyme over the series of leaks, including CBSE board papers, to say that the "chowkidar" was weak. Taking to Twitter, Rahul used the hashtag BasEkAurSaal, a reference to the government being left with one year of its term. “How many leaks? Data leak! Aadhar leak! SSC Exam leak! Election date leak! CBSE papers leak! There is a leak in everything, the 'chowkidar' is weak,” Gandhi said in a tweet that was in both Hindi and English.

News18's satirical take on the paper leak scandal.

Questions are being raised on CBSE chief Anita Karwal’s silence. While HRD minister Prakash Javadekar has addressed two press conferences on the issue, Karwal’s silence has raised eyebrows. Officials first said Karwal was on a four-day leave, but when cornered by reporters, they said she “might be working from home or may be at the HRD ministry”.

Reports about the Economics paper being leaked had circulated on social media, including on WhatsApp, several hours before the paper commenced on Monday. The CBSE, however, denied any leak and urged students and parents not to panic. A similar incident occurred on March 15 when the Delhi government had said that it had received complaints of the Class 12 Accountancy paper being leaked. A probe was later ordered even though the board had denied any leak.

The Delhi Police said they have registered two cases. The first case in connection with the leak of Economics paper was lodged on March 27, while the case pertaining to Class 10 Mathematics paper was lodged on March 28, following a complaint by the regional director of CBSE. The cases were registered on charges of criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy. A special investigation team comprising two deputy commissioners of police, four assistant commissioners of police and five inspectors has been set up to investigate the matter.

The Delhi Police's crime branch is investigating the leak of Class 12 Economics and Class 10 Mathematics papers after registering two separate cases in the matter. In the wake of reports claiming paper leaks, the CBSE had on Wednesday announced re-examination of the two papers. In its complaint to the police, the CBSE has said that they received a complaint by fax on March 23 from an "unknown source" that a man running a coaching institute in Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar was involved in paper leakage. The complaint also named two schools in Rajinder Nagar for their involvement in the alleged leakage.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will announce the dates for re-examination next week, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said today, adding that those guilty of leaking the Board examination papers would not go scot-free. Sources say the Delhi Police investigation in the paper leak scandal is focused on a Delhi resident who runs a coaching centre. Students who first received the leaked Class 12 Economics and Class 10 Maths question papers may also be questioned.