CBI complaint on irregularities in NIOS exam centre in MP

The ACB is learnt to have registered a complaint two months ago and is currently looking into how more than 1,000 candidates from Madhya Pradesh passed the examination without appearing for it.

If the agency finds the complaint credible and launches a formal probe, then it will be the first CBI inquiry into the functioning of the NIOS, which is an autonomous institution under the HRD Ministry and the largest open school board in the world.

The Central Bureau of Investigation’s anti-corruption branch (ACB) in Bhopal has taken cognizance of the HRD Ministry’s request to probe alleged irregularities in the Class X and XII results announced by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) last year.

The ACB is learnt to have registered a complaint two months ago and is currently looking into how more than 1,000 candidates from Madhya Pradesh passed the examination without appearing for it.

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As first reported by The Indian Express on September 9, NIOS chairman Chandra B Sharma on August 22 had recommended an investigation by CBI to the HRD Ministry after a preliminary inquiry found serious irregularities across three NIOS examination centres in Madhya Pradesh — Ratlam, Umaria and Sehore.

Out of 693 candidates who were supposed to sit for the exam in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sagod, only 19 appeared. When the results were declared, everybody was shown as having passed. Similarly, 351 candidates meant to take the exam at the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Sehore, and 175 candidates at a Navodaya Vidyalaya in Umaria, were absent, but passed the exam.

The ministry had accepted Sharma’s recommendation and written to the CBI in September. Pending an inquiry, Sharma removed all contractual employees in the Bhopal Regional Centre, which is now left with five permanent employees, including Regional Director S R Khan. The seven contractual employees had said they were being made scapegoats because of irregularities committed at the higher level by permanent employees.

Ritika Chopra

Ritika Chopra, an award-winning journalist with over 17 years of experience, serves as the Chief of the National Bureau (Govt) and National Education Editor at The Indian Express in New Delhi. In her current role, she oversees the newspaper's coverage of government policies and education. Ritika closely tracks the Union Government, focusing on the politically sensitive Election Commission of India and the Education Ministry, and has authored investigative stories that have prompted government responses. Ritika joined The Indian Express in 2015. Previously, she was part of the political bureau at The Economic Times, India’s largest financial daily. Her journalism career began in Kolkata, her birthplace, with the Hindustan Times in 2006 as an intern, before moving to Delhi in 2007. Since then, she has been reporting from the capital on politics, education, social sectors, and the Election Commission of India. ... Read More

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