Assam board Class 11 exams cancelled after paper leak; student bodies demand edu min's resignation
Guwahati, Mar 23 (PTI): All Class 11 examinations of the Assam state board from March 24 to 29, comprising 36 subjects, have been cancelled following reports of several paper leaks at different places, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said.
Demanding a proper investigation, leading student bodies such as NSUI, SFI, SMSS and AASU slammed the BJP-led Assam government and demanded Pegu's resignation and suspension of state board chief R C Jain.
Earlier, the Higher Secondary first year Mathematics paper, scheduled on March 21, of the Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) was leaked, forcing the authorities to cancel the examinations and lodge a police complaint.
The Higher Secondary first year or Class 11 examinations began on March 6 and were scheduled to continue till March 29.
"Due to reports of question paper leak and breach of protocol, the remaining subjects of HS First Year Examination 2025 (scheduled from March 24-29) stand cancelled," Pegu said in a post on X.
Sharing the official order by ASSEB, he said further action regarding the new schedule of the examinations will be decided in a Board meeting on Monday.
In another post, the minister said the Mathematics paper was leaked after 18 schools, including three government institutes, across the state broke the security seal a day before the scheduled examination.
"ASSEB has suspended the affiliation of 15 private schools across 10 districts for breaking the seal of Class 11 Mathematics question papers before the scheduled time, leading to a leak. The state government will also take action against three other schools for violating the rules in a similar manner," he said.
Police complaints will be lodged and these schools have been barred from admitting Class 11 students for the 2025-26 academic year, Pegu said.
According to the ASSEB order issued by Controller of Examinations (in-charge) Ranjan Kumar Das, all inspectors of schools and principals of lead colleges had received back the sealed packets of Mathematics question paper following its cancellation.
"...from their reports, it is seen that some of the institutions had opened the sealed packets of question paper on 20/03/2025, whereas the examination was scheduled to be held in the second session of 21/03/2025.
"...it is presumed that leakage of question papers in the rest of the examination cannot be ruled out, as all the question papers of the remaining subjects were in the custody of each institution of Assam where examination was being held," it added.
Therefore, all the remaining subjects of HS First Year examination from March 24 to March 29 have been cancelled, Das said in the order.
Later, Das told PTI that an FIR has been lodged at the CID headquarters in Guwahati, while 18 other cases will be filed at respective police stations against the educational institutions.
"Out of the 18 centres, we believe that not all have leaked the papers. Probably only one or two centres leaked the papers and those went viral on social media. The culprits will be found after a detailed probe by the police," he added.
Last week, the Class 9 English annual exam in Assam's Barpeta district was cancelled after the question paper leaked on social media.
National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress, said the paper leaks were the government's failure to protect the future of the younger generation.
"Despite repeated incidents of paper leaks, the administration has not taken adequate measures to prevent such occurrences. The consequences of these leaks are devastating. Lakhs of students who worked hard to prepare for these exams are left in a state of uncertainty," NSUI Assam president Krishanu Baruah told PTI.
"The government's inability to conduct fair and transparent examinations is a reflection of the deeper systemic issues that plague our education system. The youth deserve a government that prioritises their education, future and well-being," he added.
SFI state secretary Sangita Das alleged that question paper leaks have become a common occurrence under the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government.
"We went on a hunger strike in 2019 to protest the cancellation of question papers and demanded the resignation of R C Jain. Forget about reforms, the SEBA and the council were dissolved and a board was formed but no investigation was conducted against Jain. The corrupt official became ASSEB chairman again," she alleged.
In February last year, the Board of Secondary Education, Assam, (SEBA) and the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) were merged to create a new body -- Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB).
"Will the education minister take responsibility for such anarchy and resign? A high-level inquiry committee should be formed to investigate the matter and till then, Jain should be suspended and Pegu must resign," Das demanded.
Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS) general secretary Pranjal Kalita claimed that the Assam government will set a world record in leakage of exam papers.
"Himant Biswa Sarma has been playing with the lives of students in Assam since he was the education minister. Now, he is doing the same as the chief minister. Education Minister Pegu must admit his failure and resign," he added.
All Assam Students' Union (AASU) president Utpal Sarma said maintaining confidentiality is the primary duty of any examination institution, but the ASSEB has failed to conduct the tests properly.
"We demand a proper investigation and exemplary action. The students must get justice," he added.
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NIA asks people to share with it photos, videos related to Pahalgam terror attack
New Delhi, May 7 (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday appealed to all tourists, visitors and local people who might have any more information, photographs or videos relating to the Pahalgam terror attack to immediately contact it.
The probe agency has already taken possession of a sizable number of photographs and videos showing various aspects of the attack and is examining them, officials said.
NIA, which is officially in charge of the investigation into the terror attack, is keen to examine the content in thorough detail to search for any possible clues to the assailants and their modus operandi, they said.
Tourists and others might have, advertently or inadvertently, seen, heard or clicked some relevant detail that could help NIA unravel the conspiracy behind the unprecedented attack on tourists in Kashmir, officials said.
"It has now decided to scale up its efforts even more intensely to ensure that no useful information or evidence is missed out in its investigation into the horrendous crime against humanity," the NIA said in a statement.
The NIA has urged all such people to call up the agency on 96-54-958-816 and/or 011- 24368800 and share the information.
A senior NIA official will then connect with the caller and arrange for the relevant information/photos/videos etc to be shared with the agency, the statement said.
Several photographs and videos are found to be in circulation on various social media platforms after the terrorist attack, at Baisaran in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, that killed 26 tourists and left several injured on April 22, 2025.
NIA teams have been camping in Pahalgam to examine the attack site for evidence and have also been questioning the witnesses of the horrendous crime, the statement added.
NIA Appeals to People to Share Information on Pahalgam Terror Attack, Releases Phone Numbers pic.twitter.com/tEHN5woMIB
— NIA India (@NIA_India) May 7, 2025
