English question paper of Odisha Matric Exams 2024 ‘leaked’; AI detects irregularities

Bhubaneswar: Several irregularities were detected during the handling of Odisha Matric Exams 2024 English question paper yesterday before the conduct of the examination, when CCTV footage was verified after receiving alarms of AI installed by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) this year in Cuttack for the first time.

According to an official source, the five districts where irregularities were found are Bhadrak, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Gajapati and Nabarangpur. Board has intimated to the competent authorities i.e. Director of Secondary Education-Odisha and Cuttack Superintendent of Police (SP) to take action against the erring officials and personnel, who were engaged in the conduct of examinations.

Upon the intimation, the Director of Secondary Education, Odisha has ordered district education officers (DEOs) concerned to take necessary disciplinary action against the wrongdoers.

Notably, in Bhadrak district, the question paper packet was opened before the scheduled time specified by the Board (i.e. 8.30 AM) at Madan Mohan Jew Nodal High School in Singiti.

At the Nodal High School in Bandhagaon, the question paper packet was not kept in the iron chest after receipt from the dispatch team. The packet was kept on the table till the opening of its seal for distribution to rooms or halls.

Centre superintends in these two high schools violated the instruction of the Board for which they have been warned not to repeat the same henceforth.

Similarly, in Palai High School of Jajpur district, the candidates were found possessing incriminating instruments which were caught by the Board officials after it was alarmed by AI at the Command Control Room (CCR) of the Board in Cuttack.

The deviant students were booked by local police under malpractice (MP) and action is likely to be taken against the invigilator and centre superintendent concerned.

At Govinda Chandra High School in Aunri, the question paper packet was opened at the headmaster’s office room of the centre at 8.14 AM instead of 8.30 AM. The conduct of examinations in different rooms was poor. The centre superintendent kept his mobile phone in switch-off mode for which no contact could be established with him from the CCR in Cuttack.

The centre superintendent and observer have been warned not to repeat this henceforth.

Likewise in Keonjhar district, the candidates in Room No-5 in Hatadihi High School were moving here and there and talking with each other. The invigilator identified as Surendra Kumar Behera was a mute spectator and was not refraining the candidates from doing so.

Action is likely to be taken against the invigilator concerned for violation of examination norms. The centre superintendent and observer are responsible for not adhering to the instructions of the Board.

At Government High School in R Udayagiri of Gajapati district, the invigilator of Room No-5 was not taking any action though the candidates were making disturbances to get help from others.

Action is likely to be taken against the invigilator concerned for violation of examination norms. The centre superintendent and observer are responsible for not adhering to the instructions of the Board.

In Nabarangpur district, the conduct of examination in almost all the rooms was poor, for which eight malpractice cases were booked by the centre superintendent concerned in Government UG High School at Jabaguda of Dabugaon on instruction from the CCR in Cuttack.

Action is likely to be taken against the invigilator concerned for violation of examination norms. The centre superintendent and observer are responsible for not adhering to the instructions of the Board.