IGKV Cancels August 7 Exam After Paper Leak, Professor, 5 Students Arrested

The government-run Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), Raipur, has cancelled the B.Sc Agriculture first-year Plant Pathology examination held on August 7 after a police investigation confirmed that the question paper had been leaked, officials said on Sunday.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting chaired by IGKV Vice Chancellor Dr Girish Chandel following the August 20 leak of the Entomology question paper, a second-year B.Sc Agriculture subject.

The August 20 paper leak triggered a police investigation, during which a professor and five students of a private college in Durg district were arrested in connection with the case. The probe subsequently revealed that the Plant Pathology question paper held on August 7 had also been leaked.

Following the findings, IGKV decided to cancel the Plant Pathology examination and conduct a fresh test in the first week of September. The re-examination for the leaked Entomology paper will also be held during the same period.

The university has initiated action against Bharatiya Agricultural College, Durg, for allegedly failing to ensure the confidentiality of examination papers. A notice has been issued to the college, while strict disciplinary action has also been proposed against students detained by Raipur Police in connection with the August 20 leak.

IGKV has further issued show-cause notices to examination observers appointed for both the August 20 Entomology and August 7 Plant Pathology examinations at the Durg college.

Following the incident, the university introduced tighter examination security measures. From August 22, question papers were sent to affiliated colleges through password-protected email, replacing physical delivery. Papers for 10 am examinations were provided to colleges at 9:30 am.

The university said the same system would be followed for upcoming examinations. It will also increase CCTV surveillance in examination halls and the university's examination department, while exploring modern technology to strengthen confidentiality, transparency and security.