Uttarakhand University Cancels Exams Amid Allegations of Question Paper Leak

The Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) has made the decision to cancel two engineering examinations following allegations of a leak in the question papers. This development was reported by The Indian Express on Friday, highlighting a growing concern over the integrity of examination processes in India.

On Thursday, local police apprehended Ashish Kumar Gupta, an assistant professor at the Shivalik College of Engineering—an institution affiliated with UTU—amidst an investigation into the leak. The arrest stemmed from a complaint lodged by the university’s examination controller, who raised alarms about Gupta’s alleged actions prior to the examinations scheduled for July 7 and July 8.

According to reports, Gupta was responsible for setting the question papers for the subjects of Machine Learning for Internet of Things and Electromagnetic Field Theory. An internal inquiry indicated that Gupta shared the exam questions with students through both the college’s online portal and WhatsApp, leading to suspicions of malpractice.

This incident is occurring against a backdrop of nationwide protests regarding irregularities in competitive examinations, raising questions about the oversight and management of academic assessments across the country. The leak is expected to impact students from 12 different institutes associated with UTU, necessitating a reevaluation of the examinations. In a formal notice, the university stated that the re-examinations for the affected subjects are set to take place in the third week of August.

In response to the breach, the university has taken stringent measures against Gupta, debarring him from any examination-related responsibilities for seven years. Furthermore, the examination controller has issued a warning to the Shivalik College of Engineering for failing to maintain adequate supervision and control over examination processes. This incident underscores the urgent need for improved security measures and accountability within educational institutions, especially in an era where academic integrity is paramount.

Source: scroll.in