Odisha: Oppn BJD slams BJP govt over Utkal University question paper leak

Bhubaneswar: Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has targeted the BJP government in Odisha in connection with the alleged question paper leak in the +3 second-semester examination of Utkal University. The Opposition party alleged that Odisha has witnessed at least 25 instances of examination failures, cancellations, postponements, question-paper irregularities and other examination-related lapses during the two years of BJP rule. “The latest incident at Utkal University has once again raised serious questions about the government’s ability to conduct examinations in a fair, transparent and secure manner,” said the Naveen Patnaik-led party in a statement on Friday. According to BJD, the students spend months preparing for examinations and their families make considerable financial and personal sacrifices for their education and careers. Every cancellation, postponement, question-paper error or alleged leak creates uncertainty for thousands of students, disrupts their academic plans and causes additional financial and mental stress, it stated. The party claimed that the alleged question paper leak at Utkal University is not an isolated incident. “The cumulative effect of these lapses has created a sense of insecurity among students and job aspirants. The students and youth should not be made to pay the price for administrative and examination-management failures. The government must take immediate steps to restore confidence in the examination system,” said BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty. The regional party has asked the state government to ensure time-bound and transparent probe into the examination-related irregularities and fix responsibilities. It has also called for stronger question-paper security, secure examination-centre management, strict monitoring mechanisms and a comprehensive review of examination procedures followed by universities, recruitment boards and other examining authorities. “The future of Odisha’s students and youth cannot be treated casually. The government must move beyond slogans and take concrete measures to ensure a fair, secure, transparent and accountable examination system across the state.