Sun Mar 09 19:55:12 UTC 2025: ## Haryana Board Exams Marred by Widespread Cheating
**Gurugram, March 10, 2025** – The Haryana State Education Board (HSEB) Class X and XII examinations have been plagued by widespread cheating, with question paper leaks, mass cheating facilitated by outsiders, and imposters taking exams for other students. The exams, running from February 27th to March 29th, are being held at approximately 1,500 centers across the state.
Leaks of the English and Maths question papers on the first two days of the exams in districts including Nuh and Jhajjar led to the dismissal of invigilators and the filing of multiple FIRs. The situation escalated, resulting in the suspension of 25 police personnel in Nuh and the replacement of the HSEB secretary.
Former District Education Officer (DEO) Suraj Bhan criticized the government’s response, calling it a “knee-jerk reaction” and advocating for a multi-pronged strategy including improved infrastructure, filling teacher vacancies, and stricter legal action against cheating. He highlighted the inadequacy of existing anti-cheating laws, suggesting they encourage rather than deter malpractice.
Other retired DEOs pointed to systemic issues such as a shortage of full-time DEOs in many districts, hindering effective monitoring of schools and teachers. They also suggested increasing the number of flying squads and rotating their assignments to enhance supervision.
In response to the crisis, authorities have increased security at examination centers, deploying police on rooftops and engaging with local leaders to control crowds. The number of invigilators at sensitive centers has also been doubled. The current HSEB secretary, Munish Nagpal, reported a significant improvement in the situation after the initial leaks, citing the deployment of 246 flying squads and the registration of 250 unfair means cases. However, the scale of the cheating initially highlighted serious flaws in the exam’s security and administration.
First Piper 