Army exam question paper leak: MPs express concern

Members in the Rajya Sabha today expressed concern over the leakage of question papers for common entrance examination for 'Other ranks' of the army in the Pune zone, as the government said a CBI probe has been ordered.
Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said the leakage had only occured in the Pune zone and the government has already ordered a CBI enquiry into the matter while the Army authorities were also looking into it. The exam slated in February was cancelled after the leakage was detected.
He said the government has approved the introduction of online entrance examination in the Army in Ambala, Chennai and Jaipur recruiting zones on a pilot basis.

The minister said the crime branch of Thane had received a tip off and carried out raids in Goa, Nagpur and Pune.
Among those who expressed concern was Shiv Sena member Sanjay Raut, who said the daredevilry of the culprits behind the racket has to be observed as the leak happened in Goa, from where then Defence minister Manohar Parrikar hails, and Nagpur where Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis belongs.
He sought to know whether it was considered a failure of the Army's vigilance mechanism.

Bhamre said in addition to the probe by the police, an enquiry has also been ordered by the Army authorities to identify the persons involved in the leakage and pinpoint the responsibility and procedural lapses.

According to the minister, the exam was scheduled to held on February 26 but was cancelled after the racket came to light and was busted.
Digvijay Singh of the Congress claimed that there was a large scale conspiracy in such examinations and said a similar strategy was adopted in Vyapam also in Madhya Pradesh.