Rewind 2024: Year Of Exam Scandals – Leaks, Protests, And Cancellations; Check The List Inside

The year 2024 was marked by a series of exam paper leak scandals that disrupted India's education landscape. From medical entrance exams to state recruitment tests, controversies dominated the scene, leading to protests, cancellations, and a national debate on the integrity of the country's examination system.

National Level Exam Paper Leaks

The year began with a major controversy surrounding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) Undergraduate (UG) exam. Allegations surfaced that a well-organised syndicate had circulated the exam paper to students and coaching centres. This leak severely undermined the credibility of the medical entrance exam, which is a crucial step for aspiring doctors.

Photo Credit: PTI

In June, another incident shocked the education sector. The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) was cancelled just a day after being held. The Ministry of Home Affairs raised concerns over the exam's integrity when a screenshot of the paper appeared online, allegedly before the test took place. However, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later confirmed that the evidence was manipulated.

State-Level Exam Paper Leaks

It was not just national exams that faced issues. Several state-level exams were also plagued by leaks. In Uttar Pradesh, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) came under fire after leaks in the Review Officer (RO/ARO) exam. Furthermore, the state had to cancel an exam for recruiting over 60,000 police constables in February due to a similar scandal. In response, the state government introduced strict laws, including jail terms and heavy fines for those involved in paper leaks.

Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra also faced major controversies with their Teacher Eligibility Tests (TETs) and police recruitment exams. The Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) was forced to cancel its Revenue Officer Grade 2 and Executive Officer Class 4 exams in May 2023, citing paper leaks. A re-examination is scheduled for March 2025.

Another controversy that drew national attention was the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) 70th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024. The preliminary exam held in Patna was marred by reports of delayed question papers and mismanagement, leading to protests from students. The situation escalated when footage surfaced showing Patna's District Magistrate slapping a protesting candidate. This incident, along with security breaches where candidates raided storage boxes containing question papers, further heightened tensions.

Cancellations And Protests

The repeated cancellations and delays sparked widespread protests across the country. Social media platforms were flooded with hashtags demanding accountability and justice. Students organised large-scale demonstrations, calling for the resignation of senior officials and a complete overhaul of the examination system.

The NEET UG 2024 retest, held on June 23, saw a significant decrease in the number of top scorers, which added to the growing frustration. The cancellation of the NEET PG exam, just hours before it was scheduled, further fuelled the outrage, with many candidates already travelling to other cities for the exam.

Government Response

In response to the ongoing crisis, the government introduced measures to secure the examination process. Online portals for secure question paper delivery were implemented. In December, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced that the National Testing Agency (NTA) would limit its role to conducting entrance exams for higher education institutions from 2025, leaving recruitment exams to other agencies. Discussions about shifting to computer-adaptive tests are also underway.