Another paper leak? Alleged BAMS exam issue gets Gujarat Ayurved University in hot water; probe underway

After the NEET paper leak and a slew of issues with other examinations in the weeks that followed, the Gujarat Ayurved University has now found itself in hot water over a suspected paper leak.

The examination in question is the Shalya Tantra-1 (MS-Surgical System-1), a part of the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course at the Jamnagar-based university.

It has been alleged that the question papers for the third professional year exams for Shalya Tantra-1, which took place on July 20, leaked on WhatsApp.

Specifically, an NDTV India report noted that 11 out of the 12 questions asked in the exam had allegedly circulated on WhatsApp and were even being discussed.

Following student demand for a fair probe into the alleged paper leaks, the university formed a committee to investigate the matter further.

The report added, citing H.P. Jhala, the director in-charge of examinations at the university, that the exam had been completed as usual in the morning.

However, he claimed that he received some information on his mobile later that evening, which stated that some information about the exam had been circulated on WhatsApp beforehand.

No final decision has been made yet as the special committee continues to probe the matter—in consultations with the university's vice chancellor—and has promised strict action if the leak was verified.

It is yet to be seen how this will affect exams for students from about 20-25 colleges affiliated with the Gujarat Ayurved University, which are currently progressing on schedule.

This comes as the recent protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding accountability in the education sector—especially the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan—were called off after the Centre agreed to meet their demands on July 25.

The government then responded with a series of reforms, such as fast-track courts to arrest the accused in the NEET paper leak case and a new high-powered task force led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani and a number of other domain experts to help future-proof exams conducted by the National Testing Authority (NTA).

Pradhan's portfolio was also given as an additional charge to Union Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi, who already heads the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, as well as the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

However, following the alleged arrests of student protesters and volunteers in Delhi, West Bengal, and Bihar, the CJP has lashed out at the Centre over the alleged breach of the July 25 terms, and has also warned the government that if the protesters were not released, the satirical outfit would be forced to restart its weeks-long protests.