Ranchi: The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) has cancelled the Class 10 Science exam after reports confirmed that the question paper was leaked two days before the examination. The leak, which spread through various mediums, was discovered when students found that the actual exam paper matched the leaked version.
Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) has once again come under scrutiny after the Class 10 Science and Hindi exam papers were leaked during the ongoing board examinations. The JAC Board exams, which commenced on February 11, faced controversy when reports surfaced about the leaked question papers. Initially, the board did not confirm the allegations without conducting an investigation. However, as the situation escalated, it was forced to take action..
After the Science and Hindi exams were conducted, it was found that the question papers were identical to those circulating online. This confirmed the leak, and the JAC Board officially acknowledged the breach. Following an internal investigation, the board decided to cancel the Science and Hindi exams across the state.
According to board officials, the leaked paper first surfaced in Koderma and Giridih. Following this revelation, the board took immediate action and announced the cancellation of the exam. JAC Chairman stated that the district administration has been asked to provide an explanation regarding the matter.
The leak came to light after students from Pariyojana Balika Uchcha Vidyalaya and Government Plus 2 School, Sarvodaya Plus 2 High School in Koderma verified that the leaked questions were identical to the actual exam paper. Koderma District Education Officer (DEO) Avinash Ram confirmed that the issue had been brought to their attention.
Reports suggest that the leaked paper was being sold for Rs 350 in WhatsApp groups, where students were not only able to access the questions but were also given answers to memorize. After the exam concluded on Thursday at 1:00 PM, several students confirmed that they had received the same questions in advance.
How the Question Paper Was Circulated
The people behind the leak had created a WhatsApp group called “JAC Board Examination”, where a link was shared to add members. Only those who clicked on the link could join the group. Once inside, students were asked to pay Rs 350 via QR code to access the leaked paper. The QR code displayed the name and photo of a person identified as Prince Kumar.
A screenshot of the leaked paper was also taken by one of the group members, exposing the entire operation. It is believed that multiple students paid the amount and received the paper days before the scheduled exam.
Mathematics Paper Also at Risk
The scandal did not end with the Science paper. In the same WhatsApp group, another message was found, informing students that the Mathematics paper would also be available soon for a price of ₹350. The message stated that candidates could obtain the upcoming Maths paper by making a payment through the same QR code.
Authorities are now investigating the case, and strict action is expected against those involved in the leak. The board is also considering steps to prevent such incidents in future exams.
Over 7 Lakh Students Affected
More than 7 lakh students are registered for this year’s JAC Board exams. The revised dates for the cancelled Science and Hindi papers will be announced later. Students are advised to check the official JAC portal for further updates.
Political Controversy Over the Paper Leak
The paper leak has sparked a political controversy, with the BJP strongly criticizing the state government. BJP state president Babulal Marandi condemned the incident, calling it a serious failure of the administration.
“This government is not even capable of conducting a single examination properly,” said Marandi. He demanded strict action against those responsible for the leak, emphasizing the need for accountability.
Jharkhand Board Exams Started on February 11
The Jharkhand Board High School and Intermediate exams began on February 11, 2025. The exams are being conducted in two shifts:
- Class 10 (Matric) exams: Morning session from 9:45 AM to 1:00 PM
- Class 12 (Intermediate) exams: Afternoon session from 2:00 PM to 5:20 PM
Initially, the exams were scheduled to conclude on March 3, 2025. However, due to the cancellation of the Science and Hindi exams, the board may extend the exam schedule. According to revised plans, the exams will now continue until March 4, 2025, but additional rescheduling may be necessary.
Babulal criticises govt over matric paper leak
Ranchi, February 20: Politics has heated up in Jharkhand due to the leak of two matriculation papers. The opposition has attacked the state government by criticizing it.
BJP state president Babulal Marandi targeted it and said, ‘The Hemant government, notorious as the paper leak mafia, has shamed Jharkhand again. Perhaps this is the first time that the matriculation exam paper has been leaked in Jharkhand. The science subject paper was going viral on social media since this morning. When the question paper was matched after the examination started, it was found to be exactly the same.
Along with this, the BJP leader alleged that there is every possibility that the gang close to Chief Minister @HemantSorenJMM, who leaked the JSSC-CGL exam paper, has carried out the matriculation exam paper leak scandal.
