CBSE paper leak: Students protest in Delhi, want re-exam for all subjects

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) told Delhi Police in a complaint that it received a fax on March 23 naming a person from Rajinder Nagar behind the CBSE paper leak

CBSE paper leak, re-examinations, student dejection: These are some of the words hanging fire over students and their parents as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced re-examination for the Class 10 maths and Class 12 economics subjects amid reports of paper leaks. Students on Thursday protested the CBSE paper leak at Jantar Mantar, raising slogans of "we want justice". The fresh dates for the two re-examinations shall be announced before the end of the week. The CBSE complaint to the Delhi police has named a Rajinder Nagar coaching institute head as a possible source of the paper leak. Meanwhile, the Delhi police has been carrying out raids over the CBSE paper leak.   

Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar has said a new leak-proof system would be put in place for conducting board exams. Seeking to reach out to parents and students worried over the alleged incidents of repeated leaks, Javadekar said he had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and apprised him of the developments. With the help of technology, the government would put in place a system "which is so foolproof that there is no leak", Javadekar added.  

He also said that the HRD ministry had initiated an internal probe into the matter.  

The Delhi Police's Crime Branch has also begun investigating the alleged leak of the CBSE's Class 12 economics paper and registered a separate case in connection with the alleged leak of the Class 10 mathematics paper.

On March 26, Class XII CBSE students were left appalled following the rumours of their Economics paper being leaked on social media hours before the examination. Reports of the question paper being leaked circulated through social media and WhatsApp several hours before the time of the exam.

However, CBSE had denied the claims, saying "We have checked with all examination centres and the paper was not leaked."

According to a news channel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed unhappiness about the leak of Class 10 and 12 CBSE papers. Modi called HRD minister Prakash Javadekar after the Central education board decided to reschedule the exams following reports of a leak of question papers. The CBSE conducts 24 exams annually for 120 million (1.2 crore) students. This year, 16,38,428 students registered for Class X and 11,86,306 for the Class XII board examinations.

Students can check out details on cbse.nic.in. The general enquiry CBSE (HQ) contact numbers listed on their site are: 91-11-22509256, 22509257, 22509258, 22509259. 

Top 10 developments around CBSE Class 12 Economics paper, CBSE class 10 Mathematics paper leak:

1) Students protest CBSE paper leak at Jantar Mantar: Students affected by CBSE's decision to hold re-examinations for the Class 10 mathematics and Class 12 economics subjects on Thursday protested the CBSE paper leak at Jantar Mantar. Raising slogans of "we want justice", the students told news agencies that "either there should be re-examination for all subjects" or none.

 
2) Rahul Gandhi slams PM Narendra Modi over CBSE paper leak: Congress President Rahul Gandhi took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the CBSE paper leak, saying that the "chowkidar was weak". Taking to Twitter, Gandhi slammed the government over various leaks -- from Aadhaar data leak to the CBSE paper leak. 

3) Rajinder Nagar coaching centre head leaked paper? Reeling from the leak of the Class 10 mathematics and Class 12 economics board exam papers, the CBSE told Delhi Police in a complaint that it received a fax on March 23 naming a person from Rajinder Nagar behind the CBSE paper leak. According to the complaint, this person runs a coaching institute, reported news agency ANI today.

4) Two schools also named as the potential source of leaks: The complaint sent by an unknown source on March 23 also named two schools from the same vicinity as complicit in the leakage, the CBSE conveyed to the Delhi Police on Thursday. In the letter to the Delhi Police, the CBSE stated that the complaint copy was forwarded to the regional office of CBSE on March 24 and to Inspector Sushil Yadav on his Whatsapp. 

"On March 26, CBSE academic unit received an unaddressed envelope containing four sheets of hand written answer papers of economics paper held on that day. It was indicated in the papers kept inside the envelope that the question paper was leaked and circulated through four WhatsApp numbers," the letter read.

5) When will the CBSE class 10 maths and CBSE class 12 economics board re-examinations be re-conducted? According to CBSE's official release, "the fresh dates for the reconduct of the two exams shall be announced before the end of the week, after taking into consideration the dates of other professional exams and logistics." 

6) Delhi police carrying out raids over CBSE paper leak: Investigating the CBSE paper leak, the Delhi Police Crime Branch is conducting raids at various locations across Delhi, reported news agency ANI on Wednesday.


7) AAP slams Modi government over CBSE paper leak: With 2.8 million students affected by the CBSE Class 10 mathematics and Class 12 economics paper leak, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) slammed the Narendra Modi-led central government for the leakage of various examination papers in the country. Raising the issue of the paper leak in the Delhi Assembly, AAP's Alka Lamba said that Prime Minister Modi "gave big lectures to the students on the examination" but the students were "suffering as they will have to reappear". She added that the Centre was "answerable for this".

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who holds the education portfolio in the state government, said that the Modi government has become a "leakage government".  

"First SSC, now CBSE, they also leaked the dates of polls before the Election Commission's official announcement. I am not raising any questions against CBSE's efficiency but the recent leakage is unfortunate...," he said.

8) People tweet frustration over CBSE leaks: People on Wednesday vented their anger and frustration on Twitter after the announcement of re-examination came. 

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken tweeted how his son and many other students were feeling dejected following the reports.


Lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan questioned whether any exam or selection process is "scam-proof" in India.

Several other students also took to social media to express their displeasure.

9) 'I don't know what my fault is': Akanksha Sharma, 15, a Class 10 student from south Delhi said: "I don't know what my fault is. Why should I write my math exam again? Just tell me why. It is not my fault. I should not be punished for the paper leak," reported news agency IANS.

Sharma said she was confident of having done well in her maths exams but is "already stressed and uncertain how it is going to be in a fresh exam".

Ironically, she said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed CBSE students in a televised address, asking "us not to fear exams".

"Is this what he meant we should not fear about," she said, urging the government to revoke the decision and "not make our lives miserable".

"Are we supposed to keep our faith in the system, on the board, which has failed us before we could have failed in our exams," she added.

10) 'My faith in CBSE has been shaken': Wahid Sultan, a Kashmiri student studying in Delhi Public School, said whatever the reasons may be "my faith in the professional conduct of the CBSE is shaken". 

"Obviously, the leak may have happened on their front but why punish us. How is it going to help us? Don't they understand a simple logic that leaked paper would have reached a select few but punishment is given to all. This is like acting greater than God."

A student of Sardar Patel School in Delhi, Ojas, charged the board with acting like an "absolute authority" and felt "completely helpless" at the situation.

"We were shocked to hear of the news. CBSE knew of the rumours earlier of the paper leaks but it issued a note saying there was no paper leak and went ahead with the exam"

"It reacted very casually then. When a government authority issues a statement we take it very seriously... this is how it (CBSE) is ruining the future of students," Ojas told IANS.

11) SIT set up to probe Class 12 Economics paper, CBSE class 10 Mathematics paper leak: Delhi Police set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of its Crime Branch to probe the alleged leak of CBSE Class 12 Economics paper, CBSE class 10 Mathematics papers.

"The SIT is headed by Joint Commissioner Alok Kumar. It will also have DCP and ACP rank officers conducting the probe," Special Commissioner of Police R P Upadhyay said.

The SIT was formed after the Central Board of School Education (CBSE) registered two cases with the Crime Branch.

Alok Kumar, joint commissioner of police, crime, confirmed a case was registered on Tuesday following a complaint by the Board.

The first case was registered on Tuesday evening about the Class 12 economics question paper leak and the second, related to the leak of the Class 10 maths paper, was filed on Wednesday. 

Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) R P Upadhyay and Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Alok Kumar also held a meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik in the evening to discuss the future course of investigation.

probe
12) Govt conducting internal probe: A new system would be put in place from Monday to ensure no leaks take place and the government would ensure that there is no injustice, Javadekar said.

He said he was "saddened" by reports that the papers had leaked and asserted that he was confident that the police would investigate and nab the culprits.

"CBSE had a very solid system in place. But if someone is leaking it or there is some loophole in it, taking that into consideration, a new system will be put in place from Monday which will ensure there is no such leakage.This I want to assure parents and students. I am confident that police will investigate and nab the culprits," Javedkar said, according to PTI.

13) CBSE Class 12 Economics paper, CBSE class 10 Mathematics paper leak: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to re-conduct the examinations for Economics (Class 12th) and Mathematics (for Class 10). Earlier, the board had denied any leak and urged students and parents not to panic.

"We have checked with all examination centres and the paper was not leaked. The source of the circulation of this information is not known yet. We want to urge the students and parents to not panic and assure them that the board is doing its best to ensure the sanctity of the examination," a senior CBSE official said.

On Sunday, a day before the Class XII Economics exam, a hand-written question paper was making the rounds on WhatsApp, students said.

ALSO READ: Their faith in CBSE shaken, students fume over re-exam decision

This is what Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) notice said: The board has taken cognizance of certain happenings in the conduct of certain examinations as are being reported. With the view to uphold the sanctity of the Board Examinations and in the interest of the fairness to the students, the Board has decided to re-conduct the examinations. Dates for fresh examinations and the other details shall be hosted on the CBSE website within a week, a CBSE notice said.

14) Students, teachers to approach Delhi High Court for CBSE exam paper leak: Meanwhile, some teachers, parents, and students are planning to move the Delhi High Court seeking re-exam and an independent probe on the leaks. The parents and students claim that even the class X Social studies and class XII biology exam were leaked, among others.

15) CBSE Maths exams to be held across India? CBSE is yet to clarify if the re-exam will be for the Delhi region or all India.

16) Delhi govt orders probe into complaints of CBSE Class 12 accountancy paper leak: The Delhi government said that it had received complaints of class 12 CBSE accountancy paper being leaked, after which a probe was ordered, even as the board denied any leak.

DoE officials, who were asked to probe the issue, said the question paper being circulated on Whatsapp matches the original paper but the suspected leak has not been ascertained yet.

"The question paper circulating on Whatsapp matches the set 2 of the question paper but since the exact time at which it was circulated first is not yet known, the leak cannot be ascertained. We are looking into it," a senior DoE official said, on condition of anonymity.

Manish Sisodia asked CBSE to investigate Class XII accountancy question paper leak: The news came to light after Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted asking officers of Directorate of Education to investigate the alleged leakage.

"Received complaints of Class 12 CBSE Accountancy paper being leaked.Asked officers of Directorate of Education to investigate&lodge complaint with CBSE.Swift action must be taken, so that hard-working students don't suffer due to the negligence of CBSE," tweeted Sisodia.

Purported copies of the paper were doing round on Whatsapp and social media.

The paper was reportedly leaked in Rohini and later circulated in the national capital via WhatsApp.

17) 'CBSE Class XII accountancy question paper was not leaked': The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) earlier denied the reports of alleged leakage of Class XII accountancy question paper. In a statement, the Board informed that some miscreants tried to play mischief by circulating messages through WhatsApp, however, strict actions will be taken against such activities.

"There has been no leakage of the question paper. All the seals have been found intact at all the exam centres. During the process of exam, however, at local level some miscreants have tried to play mischief by circulating messages through WhatsApp and social media to disturb the sanctity of examinations.CBSE has decided to take strict action against such activities.FIR is being lodged by CBSE," read an official statement.

Controversy continued to court the CBSE board. 

No decision yet on compensating students for "error" in class X English paper, says CBSE: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on March 19 said it was undecided on providing compensation to Class X students for an alleged error in the English question paper.

Teachers and students have been claiming that the paper held on March 12 had certain errors in the comprehension passage section.

The passage section of the paper where students were expected to find synonyms of 'endurance, obstruction and motivation' in paragraphs two, four and five, respectively had its answers in paras three and six. Certain typos also led to confusion among students, an online petition started by a group of students said.

Reports were doing round that the board has decided to compensate students for the "error", however, the board officials clarified that no decision has been taken yet.

CRITERIA FOR PASSING MARKS (CLASS 12):

In order to be declared as having passed the examination, a candidate shall obtain a grade higher than E (i.e. at least 33 per cent marks) in all the five subjects of external examination in the main or at the compartmental examinations. For the subject related to practical work, 33 per cent marks in theory and 33 per cent marks in practical, along with 33 per cent marks in aggregate is required.

No overall division/distinction/aggregate shall be awarded

A candidate will be eligible to get the pass certificate of the Board if he/she gets a grade higher than 'E' in all subjects of internal assessment unless he/she is exempted. Failing this, the result of the external examination will be withheld but not for a period of more than one year.

A language offered as an additional subject may replace a language in the event of a candidate failing in the same provided after replacement the candidate has English/Hindi as one of the languages.

CBSE was established in 1962. CBSE affiliates all Kendriya Vidyalayas, all Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, private schools and most of the schools approved by central government of India. Every year, the board conducts the class 10 and class 12 exam in the month of March.  

With agency inputs