Andhra Pradesh: circulation of SSC question paper in social media creates a flutter

It is a ‘malpractice’ and cannot be considered a ‘paper leak’, says Director of Government Examinations

The circulation of the images of the first language (Telugu) question paper of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination on WhatsApp marred the otherwise smooth conduct of the Class 10 examination in Kurnool and Anantapur districts on Wednesday.

As the images of the question paper were circulated at 11 a.m., Kurnool District Education Officer V. Ranga Reddy traced its origin to the Zilla Parishad High School at Ankireddypalli of Kolimigundla mandal in Nandyal district, and suspended the Chief Superintendent of the examination centre (No. 45882) and the invigilator of the room from where it was said to have been circulated. 

Director of Government Examinations D. Devananda Reddy, in a statement, said, “The incident cannot be called a ‘leak’ as reported in a few news channels and social media.”

“The examination has started at 9.30 a.m. The incident has taken place at 11.30 a.m. It will be construed as malpractice, as the question paper has gone out of the examination centre as an image captured with a cell phone, which is prohibited,” Mr. Devananda Reddy said.

“All the invigilators should deposit their cell phones with the Chief Superintendent of the examination centre every day, and no student should be allowed with a cell phone into the centre,” he told the Regional Joint Directors and the DEOs of all districts.

Meanwhile, 99.3% of the students appeared for the examination on the first day in Kurnool district and 98.65% in Anantapur district.

Out of 52,119 registered students in Kurnool district, only 505 were absent while the remaining 51,614 appeared for the examination. In Anantapur district, out of 51,182 registered students, 692 were absent.