State govt loses credibility over RBSE, RPSC paper leaks

The last four years saw the highest number of paper leaks of competitive exams in the state’s history.

Almost all exam conducting bodies – Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC), Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) and Rajasthan Selection Board — have suffered paper leaks, losing credibility and trust of people.

Under the Congress government, the first paper leak surfaced in the librarian exam in 2019. It, however, did not attract much attention as the government immediately announced the next date of the exam and passed the blame on the previous BJP government for having a weak exam system. The government then made tall claims to make strict laws and to ensure fair exams, but faced embarrassment when JEN paper leaked in December 2020.

The next year, the government sat idle with no progress in making any strict laws to contain paper leaks. REET paper-II leak in September 2021 sparked national outrage with 9 lakh aspirants suffering the brunt of re-appearing in the exam.

“This is the first paper leak in which a minister and RBSE oficials came under the scanner and the casual approach of the exam body was exposed,” said Puneet Sharma, an expert on education and political analyst.