Paper leak confirmed, Raipur varsity cancels B.Sc agri 1st-year Plant Pathology exam held on Aug 7

The government-run Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), Raipur, has cancelled the B.Sc Agriculture first-year Plant Pathology examination held on August 7 after a police investigation into a separate case confirmed that the paper had been leaked, officials said on Sunday.

This decision was taken at an emergency meeting chaired by IGKV Vice Chancellor Dr Girish Chandel following the August 20 leak of the Entomology question paper, a BSc Agriculture second-year subject, under IGKV, which led to the arrest of a professor and five students of a private college in Durg district.

A police investigation into the August 20 question paper leak showed that the B.Sc Agriculture first-year

Plant Pathology paper had also been leaked, official said.

The exam for the August 7 Plant Pathology paper would be re-conducted in the first week of September. The re-test for the leaked Entomology paper is also slated to be held during the same period, they added.

The university has also initiated action against Bharatiya Agricultural College, Durg, for allegedly failing to ensure confidentiality of the examination, officials said, adding that a notice has been issued to 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," officials said.

Show-cause notices have been issued to the observers appointed by the university for the August 20 second-year Entomology examination and the August 7 first-year Plant Pathology examination at the Durg college, officials said.

The university is taking stringent measures to strengthen examination security and prevent further leaks, they added.

Following the August 20 incident, question papers for the August 22 B.Sc examinations were sent to colleges through password-protected email, replacing physical copies. Papers for the 10 am examination were provided to colleges at 9:30 am, officials said.

The same procedure will be followed for examinations scheduled on Monday, they said, adding that the number of CCTV cameras will be increased in the university's examination department and examination halls at affiliated colleges.

The university is also considering the use of modern technology to strengthen the confidentiality, transparency and security of its examination system, officials said.