While the AIEEE question papers were leaked in Uttar Pradesh and were reportedly sold for `6 lakhs each, the agency conducting the tests — CBSE — on Sunday postponed the examination, which was taken by over 12 lakh students across the country, by over two hours. Later the examination was conducted by providing fresh set of questions.
Sources in the HRD ministry confirmed that as soon as it was known that the questions papers were leaked, the CBSE postponed the two sessions of All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), which were supposed to begin at 9.30 am and 2.00 pm on Sunday.
“Fresh set of questions were distributed to students,” said CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi, adding an inquiry will be conducted into the incident and those involved will be punished.
“When we got to know (about the leak) in the morning, our aim was to do it without causing much inconvenience to most of the children... First was to ensure the exam happens as early as possible and that we have been able to do,” the chairman added.
The exams, for which first paper was supposed to begin at 9.30 am, postponed to noon and the second paper, which was supposed to start at 2 pm, was conducted at 4 pm.
AIEEE is held in two parts. While the first paper is for Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) aspirants, the second paper is for students wanting to pursue Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch).
About 12 lakh students across the country sat for the test at over 1,600 centres in more than 80 cities on Sunday.
The special task force in Uttar Pradesh has arrested one person in connection with the paper leak and is looking for further leads in the case.
“We are trying to trace down two people who leaked the paper. We have the paper with us since Saturday night. The paper was being sold for `6 lakhs,” Vijay Prakash of STF told reporters in Lucknow.
Mr Prakash said they received a copy of the question paper Saturday night. “We faxed the paper to the CBSE chairman and it was confirmed this morning that the paper was the original one,” he informed, adding that so far Bihar and Kanpur link have been traced and the special task force was working on it.
Special director general of police Brij Lal said in Lucknow that a police informer claimed that the leaked AIEEE papers were available for `6 lakhs each. “Based on the information provided by the informer STF is looking for the accused,” he added.
The CBSE chairman, while talking to reporters in the national capital, said those students who are also appearing for the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) examination, being held on Sunday, will be allowed to appear for the AIEEE on May 8.
The May 8 exam will be held at the same centre and the same admit card will be valid.
The CBSE chairman also informed that he has formed a committee to probe into All-India Engineering Entrance Examination question papers leaked in Uttar Pradesh.
“We have formed a probe committee, consisting of Prof. Falguni Gupta of IIT Kanpur and chiarman, IITJEE, former controller of examination of Delhi UniversityB.S. Garg and controller of examination of CBSE, M.C. Sharma. They will submit the report in four weeks,” he informed.