16 March 2025
The recently held Class 10 Hindi and Science board exams by the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) have become the center of controversy due to a shocking breach: the exam papers were leaked on social media. The Hindi examination was conducted on February 18, and Science followed on February 20. However, soon after these exams, reports and images of the exam papers surfaced online, closely matching the actual tests given to students.
Initially, JAC Secretary Jayant Mishra assured that the breach had been managed, with the alleged paper sets purportedly swapped out for secure ones. However, further investigations painted a different picture as they verified the papers spreading online were indeed identical to the original ones administered during the exams. This confirmation led to the cancellation of both of these Class 10 exams, affecting a staggering 7.84 lakh students across the region.
An emergency meeting was promptly convened under Education Secretary Alka Tiwari's aegis to discuss the gravity of this breach and to strategize a set of responsive actions. In this meeting, as tensions grew, JAC Chairman Dr. Natwa Hansda ordered immediate reports from Koderma and Giridh districts. Within a tight 24-hour frame, the deputy commissioners of these districts were tasked with compiling comprehensive incident reports.
The scandal's ripple effects extended into the political arena, heating the discourse around educational integrity. Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi was vociferous in his demands. He called for decisive actions, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Ramdas Soren and JAC Chairman Natwa Hansda. Marandi further pressed for a CBI inquiry into the leak, branding the oversight as unacceptable, especially concerning the crucial matriculation exams. The demand for accountability reflects the mounting public frustration and desire for a transparent examination process.
As the situation stands, JAC has maintained silence over new examination dates, leaving students and their families in anticipation and concern. The demographic affected includes over 4.33 lakh Class 10 students spanning 1,297 exam centers, in addition to the 3.50 lakh Class 12 students accommodated at 789 centers. The scale of this logistical juggernaut complicates the scheduling of re-examinations.
