Year Ender 2024: From alleged paper leaks to exam cancellations, controversies this year

In June, the Centre cancelled the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) exam crucial for entry-level teaching jobs and PhD admissions in Indian universities, following inputs from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that “the integrity of the examination may have been compromised”. UGC-NET was cancelled a day after it was held.

The input was a screenshot of a paper circulating on a Telegram channel around 2 pm on the exam day (June 18), with messages and comments suggesting it was leaked before the first session. However, the CBI probe into the alleged UGC-NET paper leak has found that the “evidence” was doctored.

Two other public exams this year — CSIR-UGC NET, and NEET-PG — were postponed. 

Also, the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) which was otherwise scheduled to be conducted between May 15 and 29, was also held on July 19. The CUET UG retest was taken by roughly 250 candidates from the Oasis Public School in Hazaribagh, which was under the scanner for NEET UG leak. All candidates from that centre were directed to take the retest on July 19.

Exam scandals across states

As the year progressed, several state-level exams were also allegedly targeted by criminals. In UP, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) faced massive scrutiny after the leak of papers for the review officer/assistant review officer (RO/ARO) exam. In February, an exam for the recruitment of over 60,000 police constables was cancelled due to an alleged paper leak.

The Uttar Pradesh government in June passed the proposal for promulgation of an Ordinance that provides for jail terms ranging from two years to life imprisonment, and fines of up to Rs 1 crore for those involved in question paper leaks.

Similarly, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra reported significant breaches in their Teacher Eligibility Tests (TETs) and police recruitment exams, adding to the growing sense of distrust among students and parents alike. Also, Rajasthan Public Service Commission cancelled the Revenue Officer Grade II and Executive Officer Class IV examinations held in 2023, saying that the question papers for both had been leaked. Both exams were conducted on May 14, 2023, and the commission recently said that a re-examination would be held on March 23, 2025.

Impact on students and the system

For many students, these leaks were not just a matter of academic dishonesty but a severe blow to their hopes and dreams. Several students who had prepared for months, if not years, for these exams found themselves grappling with the uncertainty of whether their efforts would be recognized. In some cases, students were forced to retake exams, only to find themselves again faced with compromised security and allegations of manipulation.

National Testing Agency (NTA) which held a NEET UG 2024 retest for 1,563 candidates on June 23 released revised results. The topper tally in the revised NEET UG result came down from 67 to 17.

The NEET PG exam was cancelled a night before exam. The decision was being heavily criticised by NEET PG candidates, many of whom had to travel to other cities to appear for the exam.

This cycle of leaks, cancellations and postponements prompted angry protests across the country. Social media platforms were flooded with hashtags demanding accountability, and students voiced their frustrations over the lack of transparency in the system. Many took to the streets, calling for the resignation of senior officials and demanding urgent reforms in how exams are conducted.

Government response and challenges 

The Indian government, grappling with mounting criticism, responded with a series of measures aimed at curbing the menace of paper leaks. The introduction of secure online portals for question paper delivery was seen as a step forward, but experts remained skeptical about its effectiveness, citing past failures.

NTA will conduct only entrance exams for higher education institutions from 2025 and not recruitment exams, said Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on December 16 in the Parliament. He further added that the government is looking at moving to computer adaptive test, tech-driven entrance exams in near future.

He said that talks are on with Health Ministry on whether to conduct NEET-UG in pen-paper mode or online. 

Calls for systemic reform

As the year concludes, there is a growing consensus among educators, students, and policymakers that deeper systemic reforms are needed to restore credibility to India’s examination processes. Experts have called for the digitization of all exams to eliminate human intervention, along with more stringent background checks for examiners and staff. Additionally, stronger legal frameworks to punish those involved in paper leaks have become a priority for many.

Furthermore, the question of whether India’s obsession with high-stakes exams is contributing to the problem has gained traction. Many have pointed out that the overwhelming focus on exams, often seen as the sole measure of a student’s capabilities, has created an environment ripe for exploitation by corrupt elements.