Pune University Halts PhD Fellowship Entrance Test Evaluation Amidst Paper Leak Allegations

Pune, 11th January 2024: Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has temporarily suspended the evaluation process for the PhD Fellowship Entrance Test conducted for BARTI, Mahajyoti, and Sarathi organizations. The university, in a circular issued today, vehemently denied accusations of a ‘paper leak’ related to the examination held on January 10, 2024.

The entrance test, administered by the SET Department of SPPU, covered Sarathi, BARTI, and Mahajyoti organizations across Pune, Chattrapati Sambhajinagar, Kolhapur, and Nagpur from 10 am to 11 am.

Allegations surfaced when students discovered that question papers for sets C and D were not appropriately sealed. The university, however, has refuted these claims in the press circular issued today.

According to the circular, the entrance exam had four sets of question papers labeled A, B, C, and D. The printing of these papers was outsourced to two different printing presses, both following standardized secret protocols. While acknowledging potential differences in the methods used by each printing press, the circular emphasized that the question papers reached their respective exam centers in a sealed manner.

Clarifying the situation, the circular highlighted that students were instructed not to open the question booklets if found unsealed. Students adhering to these instructions found the question papers for sets A and B sealed, while those for sets C and D were reportedly unsealed. In response, students refused to open the question papers for sets C and D and opted not to take the exam.

Addressing concerns of a paper leak, the circular outlined that sets A and B were printed by one press, and sets C and D were printed by another. Despite the reported lack of sealing for sets C and D, the circular clarified that the pamphlets containing question papers were securely sealed. These pamphlets were opened at the examination centers, and no hard or soft copies of the paper were accessible to officials before the exam began. The circular emphatically stated that no member associated with the exam process had knowledge of any part of the question paper, dismissing any allegations of a paper leak.