Cheating cases in SSC & HSC exams drop, but severity rises

Pune: The SSC and HSC exams that ended on Wednesday were marred by mass copying cases, circulation of question papers on social media, and a security breach in Sangola in Solapur district.A strongroom storing question papers was broken into in Sangola and some 50 papers were stolen early on Tuesday, a day before the SSC geography exam. There were fewer overall malpractice cases, but the violations were more serious. Cheating cases in the SSC exam declined from 93 in 2025 to 72 this time, while HSC cases dropped from 364 to 237. FIRs in SSC-related cases remained at four, but for HSC cases, they increased from 10 to 15, indicating stricter enforcement. Unlike last year, when no staff faced action, three SSC and 100 HSC personnel were suspended this time around for involvement or negligence. State board chairman Trigun Kulkarni attributed the decline in numbers to stronger monitoring systems, but acknowledged that the nature of malpractices has become more serious and organised, raising concerns about exam integrity despite improved detection and enforcement mechanisms. "The drop in overall cases is a result of strengthened monitoring systems. The reduction in numbers shows that our preventive mechanisms are working. At the same time, the detection of serious offences proves that our vigilance systems are robust and capable of identifying malpractice at any level," he told TOI.Kulkarni said the reporting of such incidents was the result of systemic efficiency, rather than failure. "Earlier, many such cases would go undetected. Today, with CCTV monitoring, flying squads, and digital surveillance, we can identify and act on even the most sophisticated attempts," he added.Other board officials said such incidents highlight a shift from isolated cheating to organised attempts involving technology and coordinated efforts, making enforcement more challenging.Ramesh Pise, a govt school's former principal, said while the board claimed success in reducing overall numbers, the seriousness of breaches underscores the need for continued vigilance. "New methods of cheating, ranging from social media leaks to coordinated theft, are beginning to test the system's resilience."