India: Exam paper leak hits 1.6 million students

India launches investigation into exam paper leak

by Staff Writer 30-03-2018 | 5:04 PM
India has launched an inquiry into its national school exams after questions were leaked, forcing 1.6 million students to resit their tests. The leaked questions were from mathematics and economics papers. The questions were accessed and spread via WhatsApp prior to the exam. So far, police have questioned 32 people, BBC reports. Hence, the authorities say the new exam dates will be announced soon. A special investigation team is probing the case and is trying to reverse-trace the chain of WhatsApp messages containing the questions. The probe had indicated that the papers were being sold for as little as INR 10,000 to INR 15,000, The Times of India reports. Federal Education Minister Prakash Javadekar has promised to strengthen online security following the outrage over the leak. "The criminals who did this won't be spared. I am sure police will catch these people soon. Let me assure that we will further improve the system and make it foolproof," Javadekar told reporters. The leak pertains to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exams that are crucial for students hoping to secure admission in some of India's most prestigious public universities.