Guwahati, Assam – March 23, 2025 – The Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) has been thrust into the spotlight following a series of question paper leaks that have disrupted the state’s education system. In a dramatic turn of events, the board announced the cancellation of all remaining Higher Secondary (HS) First Year (Class 11) examinations for 2025, originally scheduled from March 24 to March 29, due to reports of breaches in protocol and widespread leaks. This decision comes on the heels of a leaked Mathematics paper and follows a similar cancellation of the Class 9 English annual exam in Barpeta district earlier this week, raising serious questions about the integrity of Assam’s examination processes.

The Unfolding Crisis

The trouble began earlier this month when the Class 9 English annual exam, set for March 20 in Barpeta district, was abruptly cancelled after the question paper surfaced on social media platforms. District officials, suspecting the leak originated from one or two examination centers, launched an investigation, but the damage was already done. The incident foreshadowed a larger crisis that erupted just days later with the Class 11 Mathematics examination, scheduled for March 21.

According to Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, the Mathematics paper leak occurred after 18 schools, including three government institutions, broke the security seals on question paper packets a day before the exam. “Probably only one or two centres leaked the papers, and those went viral on social media,” Pegu stated in a post on X, emphasizing that a detailed police probe is underway to identify the culprits. The breach forced the cancellation of the Mathematics exam, and subsequent concerns about the security of remaining question papers led ASSEB to scrap the entire examination schedule for the week of March 24-29, affecting 36 subjects.

In an official statement, Ranjan Kumar Das, Controller of Examinations (In-Charge) at ASSEB, explained the board’s reasoning: “It is presumed that leakage of question papers in the rest of the examination cannot be ruled out, as all the question papers of the remaining subjects were in the custody of each institution of Assam where the examination was being held.” The board has scheduled a meeting on Monday, March 24, to determine new examination dates, leaving thousands of students in limbo.

Institutional Fallout and Accountability

The fallout from the leaks has been swift and severe. ASSEB has suspended the affiliation of 15 private schools across 10 districts for their role in prematurely opening the sealed Mathematics question paper packets. Additionally, the state government has promised action against three provincialized (government-aided) schools implicated in the breach. Education Minister Pegu has assured the public that the police investigation will uncover those responsible, but the damage to the board’s credibility is already palpable.

Student organizations and political leaders have seized the opportunity to criticize the BJP-led Assam government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) Assam president, Krishanu Baruah, told PTI, “Lakhs of students who worked hard to prepare for these exams are left in a state of uncertainty. The government’s inability to conduct fair and transparent examinations is a reflection of the deeper systemic issues that plague our education system.” Similarly, Sangita Das, state secretary of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), accused the Sarma administration of normalizing question paper leaks, stating, “This has become a common occurrence under this government.”

Opposition voices have also pointed to a broader pattern of examination irregularities across BJP-ruled states. Posts on X have drawn parallels between Assam’s situation and recent paper leaks in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, with some calling for national-level intervention. Sushmita Dev, a prominent political figure, remarked on X, “I think it’s time for a Mann Ki Baat by @PMOIndia on #paperleaks as Assam joins the race… Students in Assam have to go through body checks and people have to go without internet during exams, but institutions are callous enough to open sealed question papers before exam date.”

Impact on Students and Parents

The cancellations have left students and parents grappling with frustration and uncertainty. The HS First Year exams, which began on March 6 and were set to conclude on March 29, are a critical milestone for Class 11 students preparing for their final board exams the following year. “My daughter has been studying day and night for these exams, and now we don’t even know when they’ll happen,” said Rina Gogoi, a parent from Guwahati. “This is unfair to the students who’ve done nothing wrong.”

The repeated leaks also highlight a growing reliance on social media as a medium for distributing compromised materials, a trend that has plagued examination systems nationwide. Last week’s Class 9 English paper leak in Barpeta and the rapid spread of the Class 11 Mathematics paper underscore the challenges of securing exams in the digital age.

A Recurring Problem

This is not the first time Assam has faced such a crisis. In March 2023, the state’s High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examination was marred by leaks of the General Science and Assamese language papers. At the time, Chief Minister Sarma identified a centre in-charge and several teachers as the masterminds behind the breach, promising strict action. However, critics argue that little has changed in the intervening years to prevent such incidents, pointing to systemic weaknesses in oversight and security protocols.

The Assam government has lodged a police complaint in response to the latest leaks, and authorities have vowed to crack down on those responsible. Yet, with public trust eroding and student futures hanging in the balance, the pressure is mounting for more robust reforms.

Looking Ahead

As Assam awaits the announcement of fresh examination dates, the question paper leak fallout has ignited a broader debate about accountability, governance, and the state of education in India. For now, students are left to pick up the pieces, while educators, administrators, and policymakers scramble to restore faith in a system shaken by yet another scandal.

The coming days will reveal whether the government’s promised investigation yields results or if this incident becomes just another chapter in a troubling saga of examination malpractice. One thing is clear: the stakes are high, and the eyes of Assam—and indeed the nation—are watching closely.

  Assam Question Paper Leak, Assam State School Education Board, ASSEB