Madhya Pradesh Sees 12 Exam Frauds Since 2020

The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB) has conducted 73 examinations since 2020, including 40 recruitment tests and 33 eligibility, entrance and selection examinations. However, more than 12 of these examinations have been marred by police cases related to malpractice, with three recruitment examinations being cancelled.

The biggest action was taken in 2021, when the board cancelled three examinations, including the Rural Agriculture Extension Officer and Senior Agriculture Development Officer Recruitment Examination-2020, after a technical probe found that confidential question papers had been downloaded illegally from unauthorised computers. The cases were referred to the State Cyber Police, which registered separate criminal cases.

The Police Constable Recruitment Examination-2023 is currently under investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after police cases were registered in different districts. In 2025, FIRs were registered in impersonation cases linked to the Primary and Secondary Teacher Selection Examination-2024 and the Group-5 Recruitment Examination-2024.

Official records show that police cases relating to examination malpractice were registered in more than 12 examinations during the period. For instance, FIRs were lodged against five candidates in the Primary Teacher Eligibility Test-2020 over alleged examination fraud. The Patwari Recruitment Examination-2022 also triggered a major controversy after allegations of large-scale irregularities.

The MPESB has received nearly 2.27 crore applications for the 73 examinations conducted since 2020. Around 78.33 lakh candidates appeared in 65 examinations, while attendance data for eight examinations was not disclosed. Recruitment has been completed through 31 examinations, with 51,230 candidates selected. Results of nine recruitment examinations are still pending.

Between 2020-21 and 2024-25, the board collected Rs 359.50 crore as examination fees. The issue of examination malpractice has gained traction, reviving memories of the Vyapam scam. The protests over paper leaks and recruitment irregularities are intensifying across the country, and the MPESB is taking steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

The MPESB has a crucial role to play in ensuring the integrity of the examination process. The board must take stringent measures to prevent examination malpractice and maintain transparency in the recruitment process. This is essential to uphold the trust of the candidates and ensure that the recruitment process is fair and merit-based.

In conclusion, the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board has faced several challenges in conducting examinations since 2020. The board must learn from these experiences and take necessary steps to prevent examination malpractice and ensure the integrity of the examination process. This is crucial for maintaining the trust of the candidates and ensuring that the recruitment process is fair and transparent.

The issue of examination malpractice is not limited to Madhya Pradesh and is a concern across the country. It is essential for all state governments and examination boards to take stringent measures to prevent such incidents and maintain transparency in the recruitment process. This will help to uphold the trust of the candidates and ensure that the recruitment process is fair and merit-based.

The Madhya Pradesh government must also take steps to address the issue of examination malpractice and ensure that the recruitment process is transparent and fair. This can be achieved by implementing strict measures to prevent cheating and maintaining transparency in the examination process. The government must also ensure that the examination board is autonomous and free from any external influence.

In the end, it is essential for the Madhya Pradesh government and the MPESB to work together to prevent examination malpractice and ensure that the recruitment process is fair and transparent. This will help to maintain the trust of the candidates and ensure that the recruitment process is merit-based.