Fresh paper leak allegations have surfaced at Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU), adding to growing concerns over examination integrity across India. The university has cancelled two engineering semester examinations after an internal inquiry found evidence suggesting that one of the question papers had been leaked before the test.
The cancelled examinations belong to the 2025–26 academic session and include the subjects Machine Learning for Internet of Things and Electromagnetic Field Theory. Based on the recommendations of a high-level inquiry committee, the university has decided to hold fresh examinations during the third week of August to ensure fairness for all students.
Alongside cancelling the exams, the university has launched a detailed investigation into the paper leak incident. An FIR has also been registered against a faculty member accused of leaking confidential examination material.
According to officials, Ashish Kumar Gupta, a 40-year-old assistant professor at Shivalik College of Engineering in Dehradun, has been arrested in connection with the case. The university alleged that he circulated examination questions before the even-semester exam conducted on July 8.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Gupta was part of the team responsible for preparing the Machine Learning for Internet of Things examination paper. Investigators reportedly found that nearly 90 percent of the questions appearing in the final exam closely resembled questions that had allegedly been shared with students through a college WhatsApp group before the examination.
The latest paper leak controversy comes at a time when India is witnessing widespread protests over alleged irregularities in competitive and university examinations. Students and education experts have repeatedly demanded stricter security measures and greater transparency to restore confidence in the examination system.
University authorities have assured students that the re-examinations will be conducted under enhanced security arrangements. Officials also stated that the investigation will continue and that strict legal action will be taken against anyone found responsible for compromising the integrity of the examination process.
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