The Uttar Pradesh government has cancelled the Assistant Professor recruitment examination after concrete evidence of a paper leak emerged during a Special Task Force (STF) investigation. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered the exam to be scrapped with immediate effect and directed that it be conducted again to ensure full transparency.
The examination, conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission on April 16 and 17, 2025, soon came under suspicion after complaints and reports of irregularities began to surface. The case was later transferred to the STF for a detailed probe.
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Paper leak network uncovered
During the investigation, the STF arrested Baijnath Pal, an Assistant Professor at Lal Bahadur Shastri Degree College in Gonda, along with his brother Vinay Kumar and Mahboob Ali, a resident of Ayodhya.
At the time, Mahboob Ali served as the confidential assistant to the commission’s then chairperson, Professor Kirti Pandey. Investigators allege that Ali accessed several subject papers during the moderation process and sold them for large sums of money.
Analysis of confiscated mobile phones, call records and digital data revealed that the question papers had reached multiple candidates before the exam. Based on these findings, the government concluded that the integrity of the examination had been severely compromised.
Chairperson steps down; case registered
To ensure fairness during the probe, the then chairperson of the commission was asked to resign. Meanwhile, a case has been registered at Vibhutikhand police station in Lucknow under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
During interrogation, Mahboob Ali reportedly admitted to extracting the question papers and facilitating their distribution among select candidates. STF officials said the technical evidence recovered from devices corroborated his statement.
Data matching exposes the scale
Investigators then examined call logs, chats and contacts linked to the arrested individuals. Several more names of suspected candidates emerged.
When the commission was asked to share data of shortlisted and appearing candidates, the information was matched with the investigation trail. It became clear that some candidates had access to the leaked papers well before the examination was held.
This became the basis for the Chief Minister’s decision to cancel the exam and order that the next test be conducted in a fully transparent and impartial manner.
Fresh exam soon — tighter security promised
The state government has directed the commission to conduct the examination again at the earliest, while significantly tightening security protocols.
Officials said digital monitoring systems will be strengthened, confidentiality procedures around question papers will be upgraded and stricter standards will be applied while selecting external agencies — all to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
Mixed reaction among candidates
While thousands of aspirants now face further delays and uncertainty, many welcomed the decision as necessary to protect fairness.
Some candidates said cancelling the exam was the “right step” if the leak is proven, arguing that honest applicants should not suffer because others cheated. Others, however, expressed frustration, saying repeated cancellations disrupt careers and cause mental and financial stress — and urged the government to devise permanent safeguards.
Clear message from the government
Officials said the episode sends a strong warning that manipulation in recruitment examinations will not be tolerated.
According to the state government, the priority is clear:
- Those tampering with merit will face strict action — and deserving candidates will not be denied their opportunity.
- The commission is expected to announce new examination dates soon through an official notification.
