HRD Ministry forms panel to study CBSE exam process
New Delhi: In the backdrop of the Class 12 economics question paper leak, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has set up a seven-member committee to examine the board's examination process.
The committee constituted on Tuesday and headed by former HRD Secretary Vinay Sheel Oberoi will examine the conduct of Class 10 and Class 12 examinations by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in order to prevent leak of question papers and revisit all aspects related to security checks built into the system to ensure question papers reach examinees without tampering, a Ministry statement said.
It will also suggest measures to make the examination process "secure and foolproof through the use of technology". The panel will submit a report by May 31 to the Ministry.
Other members are former CBSE Controller of Examination Pavnesh Kumar, former NCERT Director J.S. Rajput, Mumbai-based SNDT Women's University's former Vice Chancellor Vasudha Kamat, former Education Director (Uttar Pradesh) Krishna Mohan Tripathy, senior representative of Director General (National Information Centre) and the Joint Secretary (SE-II).
The committee will examine/assess potential weakness in the present system of transporting question papers from the printing presses till they reach the examination halls.
The committee will suggest ways for more secure system through technology use and minimal human intervention, it said.
The CBSE came under widespread attack after the economic question paper was leaked, affecting lakhs of students.
The government announced a re-examination of CBSE Class 12 economics paper on April 25. But it ruled out any re-test for Class 10 mathematics paper, which too was said to have been leaked.
Delhi Police is probing the leak following a complaint by the CBSE.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
