West Bengal to suspend internet during Secondary exam to prevent question paper leak

According to reports, internet services will be suspended from 12 pm. to 2 pm. on the exam days between Feb 18 and Feb 27 in 42 block areas under Malda, Murshidabad, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and North and South Dinajpur districts of West Bengal to prevent question paper leak.

"The state education department has identified as many as 42 blocks across West Bengal, from where question papers were allegedly leaked during last year's secondary examinations, and decided to restrict internet services in those areas," a senior official of West Bengal school education department told IBNS.

"In the 2,839 examination centres across the state, neither teachers nor students can carry mobile phones, calculator and smart watch," the official added.

During secondary examination last year, six out of seven compulsory question papers were allegedly leaked on Whatsapp and state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had initiated a probe into the matter.

At least seven persons were arrested from different locations across West Bengal in connection with the question paper leak last year.

This year, 10,15,888 students will appear in the Madhyamik examination, and of them 5,76,009 are girls, which is 56.7 percent and the highest in the recent times.