The alleged paper leak in Sunday's All India Engineering Entrance Examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education resulted in a harrowing time for lakhs of students across the country, and thousands of candidates missing it altogether.
While the CBSE website states students who have missed the AIEEE will be allowed to appear for it on May 8, CBSE Chairman Vineet Joshi said: “Students have informed us that the Karnataka combined entrance examination and also a Banaras Hindu University exam are taking place on May 8, hence we may try to have the examination on May 10.”
Mr. Joshi said: “According to preliminary reports, about 32,500 students of the 11.5 lakh scheduled to take the paper could not appear for it. We got a call from the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force regarding a leaked AIEEE paper which was faxed to us. This matched with the actual paper. This happened at about 8 a.m. on Sunday. We immediately made arrangements to send out a fresh set of papers to the various centres.”
The examination was scheduled to take place in over 1,600 centres in more than 80 cities.
The AIEEE was also held online for the first time. It took place successfully with 4,500 candidates appearing for it . ”
Report in 4 weeks
The Armed Forces Medical College MBBS examination, which was scheduled for 2.30 p.m., Sunday, was postponed to 4.30 p.m.
Mr. Joshi said the affected students were those who were also appearing for the AFMC paper or were to appear for the AIEEE paper at a centre which conducted the AFMC examination also. “While the police are investigating the matter, a committee of CBSE will also look into the matter and submit a report within four weeks,” he added.
Utter chaos prevailed at various centres.
Narender Kumar Chawla's daughter Palak Chawla could hardly believe when the paper, which she had been answering for an hour, was snatched from her and she was told that the examination was postponed. Mr. Chawla said: “While students in other classes at the centre were told to return at 12 noon, my daughter's class was told that examination has been postponed till May 8. Extreme confusion prevailed, there was no information available and parents and children were a helpless lot. Anxiety increased when word came that other centres were holding the examination.”
Kartik Bajaj, who was to appear for the examination at the Kendriya Vidyalaya School No. 1, Delhi Cantt, said: “The exam was to begin at 9.30 a.m. There were no invigilators or teachers when we entered the examination hall. Word spread that the examination was postponed to 12 noon. However, when we returned to the school later, we were shocked to find the gates locked. There was just a notice which said the examination has been postponed and that we should consult the CBSE website. No teachers or Principal came out to clarify the doubts of the worried students and parents.”
Bajaj said: “The examination papers did not even reach our centre. And how come some other centres held the examination? The police also arrived at the spot. There were scenes of agitation, protests and sloganeering. It was utter harassment.”
AIEEE helpline numbers on the CBSE website remained busy or did not respond at all.
