Bhubaneswar: The Ability Enhancement Course (AEC) English examination for Plus III second-semester students of Vikram Dev University, Jayapur, was postponed on Friday after a question paper was allegedly circulated on WhatsApp hours before the scheduled test.
The compulsory English examination for undergraduate second-semester students was scheduled from 2 pm to 5 pm across around 52 centres under the university. The authorities decided to defer the examination after verifying that one of several question papers shown to them by students matched the original paper prepared for the test.
University Controller of Examinations Ranjan Kumar Pradhan said some students approached him around 11 am and reported that AEC question papers were being circulated on WhatsApp. They showed him four to five different papers, following which the university initiated verification. One of the papers was found to be identical to the original question paper, prompting the authorities to suspend the examination.
All examination centre superintendents were subsequently informed about the decision to postpone the test.
The university has lodged a complaint with the Koraput Cyber Police Station and an investigation is underway to ascertain how the question paper reached WhatsApp and how the circulated version came to match the original. Pradhan said the involvement of miscreants could not be ruled out and that the circulation might also have been an attempt to mislead students. The exact circumstances, he said, would emerge after the investigation.
The university has asked students not to rely on unverified messages or rumours circulating on WhatsApp and to follow only official communications issued by the authorities.
A fresh question paper will be prepared for the postponed examination. The university will notify the revised date and timing separately, the Controller of Examinations said.
