Triumphant Turnaround: HSEB Declares This Year’s Exams the Most Immaculate Despite Rocky Start!
In a notable turnaround from the chaos seen at the onset of the Haryana State Education Board (HSEB) exams, recent statistics show a significant reduction in incidents of unfair practices compared to past years. A month ago, the commencement of the Class X and XII exams, both for regular students and those part of the Haryana Open School, was marred by controversy. Question papers were leaked on the first day, leading to suspicions of mass cheating facilitated by outsiders, and reports of impostors sitting for candidates. However, at the conclusion of the exams last week, board officials declared this year’s exams as the least affected by such issues in recent memory.
The HSEB reported only 599 Unfair Means Cases (UMCs) this year, a striking decline from 918 in 2024, 1,813 in 2023, and a staggering 3,570 in 2022. Additionally, exam cancellations reduced dramatically, affecting only 10 centers compared to 29 the previous year and 64 the year prior. This improvement was attributed to decisive measures initiated by Munish Nagpal, who took over as HSEB secretary on March 3, following news of rampant cheating. “The board exercised unprecedented strictness to tackle the menace of cheating. This included the suspension of police personnel and the deployment of 226 flying squads to monitor centers effectively,” Nagpal stated.
Further efforts included the appointment of 588 observers at high-risk examination centers and the assignment of a Nodal Officer in each district to liaise with board officials. Despite these efforts, certain districts such as Nuh, deemed the most disadvantaged in Haryana, remained infamous for examination malpractice. Nuh accounted for nearly half of the total UMCs, with 249 cases. Neighboring districts like Palwal, Charkhi Dadri, and Bhiwani followed, reporting 62, 39, and 38 cases, respectively.
A notable breach occurred in Nuh and Palwal on February 27, where outsiders infiltrated exam centers to capture and disseminate images of the English question paper via social media. The following day, the Class 10 Math exam suffered a similar fate at centers in Jhajjar and Nuh, with Jhajjar reporting 26 UMCs. However, districts in North Haryana, particularly along the NH-44 corridor, showcased a commendable adherence to the norms. Ambala and Karnal recorded zero cheating incidents, while only one case emerged in Kurukshetra.
The board’s crackdown extended to disciplinary actions against 135 individuals, including 109 invigilators and 20 center superintendents, accused of negligence. Furthermore, 16 First Information Reports were lodged against 74 individuals across the state, reinforcing the board’s commitment to ensuring exam integrity. With over five lakh students appearing at 1,434 centers across Haryana, this year’s exam process marks a positive shift towards maintaining fairness and rigor in education standards, aligning with the state’s broader educational goals.
Published: April 7, 2025, at 01:36 am IST, this report underscores the significant progress made by HSEB in curbing academic dishonesty and reaffirms the board’s dedication to upholding academic integrity and excellence in Haryana’s examination processes.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/despite-bad-start-hseb-claims-exams-this-year-most-clean-in-recent-years/article69420936.ece
Category : Delhi
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Publish Date: 2025-04-07 01:36:00
