Karnataka cancels exam after paper leak

In a shock to thousands of second year pre-university course (equivalent to class 12) students across Karnataka, the higher education department cancelled the chemistry exam held on Monday as its question paper was leaked.

"We cancelled the second PU chemistry exam conducted earlier in the day after we learnt that its question paper was leaked in some cities and towns," PU department director Pallavi Akruthi told IANS here.

Around 1.74 lakh students took the science subject exam though a majority of them were unaware that their question paper in English and Kannada was leaked at some centres and got circulated to other centres by noon.

"We will announce the re-examination date in due course, as we have ordered an inquiry into the paper leak to trace the culprits and book them," Akruthi said.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the paper was leaked near an exam centre in a women's college at Ballari, about 330km from Bengaluru, and at a state-run college at Malur in Kolar district, 50km from here.

"We have suspended chief superintendents and their deputies at both the exam centres pending inquiry. By the time we could collect the details, the exam got over by afternoon," Akruthi added.

The PUC exams in the state, equivalent to second year intermediate course or 12th class in central schools, began on March 11 across the state, with 6.5 lakh students appearing in this academic year.