Paper leak: CBSE orders re-exam of Class X Maths, Class XII Economics

New Delhi, Mar 28: The Central Board of Secondary Education has cancelled board examinations for mathematics paper of Class X and economics paper for Class XII.

A notification in this regard was issued by the board on Wednesday, following reports about the leakage of the question papers of the two subjects.

The board said that it will re-conduct the examinations for the two subjects and the dates will be announced "within a week."

While the Mathematics examinations for Class X was scheduled to be held at more than 17,000 centres across the country on Wednesday, the examinations for Economics paper of Class XII was held at more than 11,000 centres on March 26 (Monday).

The paper leak in the two subjects has affected about 20 lakh students across the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, spoke to Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar and expressed his displeasure with the CBSE's failure in maintaining the sanctity of the board examinations.

"The board has taken cognisance of certain happenings in the conduct of certain examinations as are bring reported. With the view to uphold the sanctity of the board examinations and in the interest of the fairness to the students, the board has decided to re-conduct the examinations in the two subjects (sic)," the board said issuing a notification on Wednesday.

The CBSE had rubbished the reports about the Class XII Economics paper leak when claims in this regard surfaced on various social media sites on Monday.

"We have checked with all examination centres and the paper was not leaked. The source of the circulation of this information is not known yet," a section of the media had quoted an unnamed official of the CBSE as saying, in response to the claims.

Earlier this month, there were also reports about the Accountancy paper leak but the board came up with a statement denying it.

The board, however, stated in a statement that it will lodge an FIR.

"Some miscreants have tried to play mischief by circulating messages through WhatsApp and other social media to disturb the sanctity of examinations," it also said, refusing to accept that there was any case of Accountancy paper leak.

A special team of the Delhi Police, constituted to probe into the reports of the paper leaks, has got "some vital leads," Javadekar later told reporters during a press conference at the BJP's headquarters.

Though he refused to elaborate further, he said police investigation has reached "a very advanced stage."

"I hope those involved in the paper leaks are soon arrested. Strictest action will be taken against them," Javadekar added.