IMPHAL, Feb 25: The integrity and credibility of the ongoing High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) Exam 2025 conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BOSEM) have been seriously questioned after the Social Science question paper was leaked and circulated on social media 30 minutes before the exam commenced on February 25.
The Democratic Students’ Alliance, Manipur (DESAM) has strongly condemned the leak and demanded an inquiry into the incident. DESAM General Secretary Nongthombam Thoithoiba highlighted the matter during a press briefing in Imphal on Tuesday, raising concerns over the breach of exam security and the credibility of the exam process.
The leaked question paper was reportedly shared in two WhatsApp groups, ‘Old is Gold’ and ‘Inter-Football Geography,’ just 30 minutes before the exam began. DESAM has urged the conducting authority, BOSEM, to take the matter seriously and form a committee to investigate the breach, with approval from Manipur’s Chief Secretary, PK Singh. The student body also called for strict actions against those responsible for the leak.
The HSLC Exam 2025, which began on February 19, 2025, will conclude on March 7, 2025. A total of 37,052 students are appearing for the exam across 155 centers—93 in the valley districts and 62 in the hill districts. The incident has sparked outrage among students and parents, who are questioning the fairness of the examination system.
In response to the leak, Ayam Thoi, BOSEM Controller of Examination, condemned the incident as an effort by certain sections to damage the reputation of BOSEM. He assured that a complaint had been filed, and the State Cyber Crime Police Station has launched an investigation. He further assured the public that those responsible for the breach will be arrested soon. BOSEM will also be holding a meeting with Board Officials to discuss the next steps in handling the situation and preventing further incidents.
