English question paper of Odisha Matric exam ‘leaked’ before exam, probe into allegations underway

Notwithstanding the elaborate arrangements made by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) for the smooth conduct of the annual High School Certificate (HSC) or Matric examination, the question paper of the English examination reportedly leaked on Friday.

This year, the BSE introduced Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered CCTV cameras to keep an eye on all the exam centres and nodal centres to ensure the conduct of the Matric exams this year in a fair and disciplined manner.

The incident of the question paper leak came to the fore after a purported English question paper and its answer sheet reportedly went viral in social media in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts on Friday.

Not only the objective questions, but subjective questions like translations had also reportedly gone viral along with their answers.

Asked but the viral question paper, the Keonjhar DEO denied the incident and said that an enquiry would be held in this connection and action would be taken accordingly if the allegations were proved to be true.

The Board too termed the leaked question paper as misleading. BSE vice-president Nihar Ranjan Mohanty said, "There are not any question paper leaks in the matric exam yet. The viral question paper is done by some miscreants in an intention to mislead the people and the board. It has been 24 hours since the English exams, and we have not received any complaint about the leak."  

Meanwhile, the Centre Superintendent at Saharapada High School was transferred by the District Education Officer (DEO) over irregularities in conducting the Matric examination at the exam centre.

The DEO took the action following the recommendation from the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) Odisha which caught the irregularity through Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras.

Apart from the Saharapada High School, examinees of Hatadihi School in Keonjhar were also seen moving all over the exam hall talking to each other during the English exam in the presence of the invigilator on Friday.

As per the BSE, there have been many instances of irregularities during the conduct of the English exam on Friday in several exam centres across Odisha. Sources said as many as 42 students were booked for malpractice in several exam centres across Odisha on Friday.

The malpractice and irregularities came to the fore after the AI cameras installed by the BSE in all the exam centres and nodal centres alerted the Board about the same.

The Board has reported the matters to the School and Mass Education department and the police seeking necessary action from their ends.

Also Read | Odisha Matric Exams 2024: AI camera detects irregularities during English exam, several booked for malpractice

Speaking about the irregularities, Mohanty further said, "Some irregularities were spotted in some exam centres through the AI camera. Concerned invigilators have admitted to errors and promised to not repeat the mistake again and be more cautious. They will be made to submit an undertaking in this regard and will be deployed as invigilators in future exams as per the requirement." 

A total of 5,51,611 students are slated to appear in the examination this year which commenced on February 20 and will continue till March 4.

The BSE has made 3,047 examination centres for this purpose. Similarly, the Board has made 21 police stations in remote areas as its nodal centres.