In the last few years, incidents of paper leaks have emerged as a serious national problem in India. This has not only raised questions on the careers of lakhs of youth, but has also deeply shaken the confidence of the entire education and recruitment system. Let’s take a look at 5 such big paper leak scandals, which left the future of about 2 crore students hanging in balance. The Vyapam scam of 2013 can be considered as the beginning of this modern era problem. In 13 years, more than 100 cases of paper leaks have come to light in public recruitment examinations, which has affected about 2 crore students every year. Let us know about the 5 biggest such ‘leakocracies’…

1. Vyapam Scam: India’s biggest and horrifying paper leak scandal

This was not just a paper leak, but a big scam reaching the roots of corruption, crime and politics. Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (Vyapam) used to conduct examinations for admission to government jobs and colleges. In 2013, it was revealed that fake examinees (solvers) were taking the exam in place of others. Jobs and admissions were being bought in exchange for huge sums of money. This matter had become a big pressure on the then government of Shivraj Singh Chauhan. The opposition alleged that the scam had spread very high, but all the allegations could not be proved.

• How many students affected: This figure is very big. According to Congress, this scam affected 77 lakh students. More than 2,000 arrests were made and the degrees of 634 doctors had to be cancelled.
• Result and fear: More than 35 people (witnesses, accused, journalists) associated with this scam died under suspicious circumstances, which made the matter more frightening.

2. SSC CGL 2017: When Supreme Court termed the entire recruitment system as ‘tainted’

This was the case which drew the country’s attention to the serious problem of paper leaks. The paper of Combined Graduate Level (CGL) 2017 examination of Staff Selection Commission (SSC) was leaked on social media even before the commencement of the examination. CBI investigation revealed that supervisors of some examination centers provided external help to the candidates through remote access software. Many government officials were also involved in this.

• How many students affected: According to the CBI report, more than 30.26 lakh candidates had registered for this examination, out of which 1,50,404 had passed Tier-1. Overall, around 1.9 lakh students appeared for the Tier-2 exam and were directly affected.
• Effect on result: This leak gave rise to a massive student movement. The matter reached the Supreme Court, which stayed the results in August 2018 and termed the entire examination system as ‘tainted’. After the intervention of the Supreme Court, re-examination was conducted for the students of 318 affected centers in March 2018.

3. Railway Recruitment Controversy 2022: 1.25 crore youth boil on the streets

This case may not be a traditional paper leak, but it reveals large scale irregularities in the recruitment process. Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) released the result of first stage (CBT-1) of NTPC exam, in which candidates with high academic qualification were shortlisted for lower level jobs. The candidates alleged that they were cheated by making the marks of the screening test the basis of final selection. Many candidates were shown selected from different areas simultaneously, which was against the rules.

• How many students affected: According to the PIB report, a total of 1.25 crore students had appeared in this examination for about 35,000 posts.
• Effect on result: Due to this dispute, violent demonstrations took place in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. A train coach was set on fire at Gaya Junction. Railway Ministry had to postpone both NTPC and Level-2 examinations. The government warned that candidates who create nuisance will be banned from getting railway jobs for life.

4. UGC-NET 2024: Exam canceled after just one day, future of 9 lakh students at stake

This was a tremendous blow for lakhs of students dreaming of becoming PhD and professors. The very next day of the UGC-NET exam held on June 18, 2024, the Education Ministry canceled it. This action was taken on the intelligence information received from the Home Ministry’s agency (I4C). There was news that the paper was being leaked and sold on the darknet and Telegram.

• How many students affected: According to the Telegraph report, more than 9.08 lakh candidates had appeared in this examination. Although 11 lakh had registered.
• Truth of the result: About six months later, in January 2025, CBI filed the closure report in this case. Investigation found that a school student had made a fake screenshot of the leaked question paper with the help of an app and made it viral to earn money. That is, the leak on the basis of which the entire examination was canceled was fake.

5. NEET-UG 2024: 67 students’ perfect score of 720 and burning questions

This controversy made headlines across the country and reached the judiciary. The Principal and Vice Principal of Oasis School, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, along with the employees, stole the Miller question paper and sold it for lakhs of rupees. In this examination, 67 students had scored 720 marks out of 720. In total there were only 8 toppers in 5 years (2019-2924). In 2024 alone, 67 students came on top. This figure in itself was enough to create an outcry.

• How many students affected: According to Deccan Chronicle, more than 23 lakh medical candidates appeared for the exam, all of whom were indirectly affected. More than 50 accused were arrested in this case.
• Effect on result: The matter reached the Supreme Court, but the court refused to cancel the entire examination. However, 1,563 students who received ‘grace marks’ had to re-appear.

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