UP Board Issues Stern Warning Over Currency Notes in Answer Sheets
The Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Board (UP Board) has taken a firm stance against a deceptive practice where students insert currency notes into their answer sheets in an attempt to influence examiners. Board Secretary Bhagwati Singh has declared this a misleading tactic that will be treated as the use of unfair means during examinations.
Strict Instructions and Announcements
According to Singh, the board issued clear directives before the commencement of examinations to district-level authorities, instructing them to inform students about this issue. The District Inspectors of Schools (DIOS) were specifically directed to ensure that announcements were made in every examination room through center superintendents. These announcements explicitly told candidates not to place money inside their answer sheets.
Historical Context and Enforcement
Officials revealed that in previous years, examiners discovered currency notes ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 500 in several answer sheets. Students reportedly engaged in this practice with the expectation that examiners might be influenced to award higher marks. To curb this malpractice, the board has decided to strictly enforce existing rules.
Invigilators have been given the responsibility to ensure student compliance with these instructions. If money is found inside an answer sheet during evaluation, it will be considered negligence on the part of the concerned invigilator.
Consequences for Violations
In cases where currency notes are discovered, details of the answer sheet—including the candidate's roll number and subject—will be recorded separately at the evaluation center. This documentation will help authorities identify the examination room where the candidate appeared and determine which invigilator was on duty.
Strict action will then be taken against the concerned invigilator under the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act. The candidate involved will also face immediate consequences, being declared failed in the examination.
Future Opportunities for Affected Students
However, the board has clarified that students who face failure due to this malpractice may later appear in compartment examinations through legitimate means to pass the subject. This provision offers a path for redemption while maintaining the integrity of the examination process.
The UP Board's decisive action aims to preserve the fairness and credibility of its examination system, ensuring that academic evaluation remains based solely on merit rather than external influences.
