AIEEE paper leak traced to CBSE press

The All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) question paper leak this May was carried out at a printing press where the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) publishes mass documents, a probe by the board has concluded.

The All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) question paper leak this May was carried out at a printing press where the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) publishes mass documents, a probe by the board has concluded.

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But two months after the leak, the CBSE has few answers on the criminal probe into the episode that affected nearly 12 lakh students despite repeated reminders to the Uttar Pradesh police investigating the leak.

“The truth is that there are many questions that remain unanswered — a situation that is far from ideal because it hampers efforts to prevent a repeat next year,” a senior CBSE official said.

The May 1 examination was postponed by two hours for all students after the UP Special Task Force alerted the CBSE about the leak in Lucknow on the morning of the test. But several students could not take the test two hours later because the new timing clashed with that of another competitive exam.

The CBSE then postponed the AIEEE for these students — who had a clashing examination — 10 days later, drawing criticism from some parents over the extra preparation time for these select students and the perceived absence of uniformity in question papers.

The board set up a probe team immediately after the leak, while the UP STF also arrested the brother of a key accused.