Delhi Police Forms Special Task Force to Tackle Exam Paper Leaks

The Delhi Police have established a Special Task Force (STF) within its Crime Branch to investigate paper leaks and other malpractices related to public examinations, a senior officer confirmed on Friday. This move comes under the provisions of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which was enacted to curb irregularities in high-stakes recruitment and entrance tests.

The STF will be headed by an officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in the Crime Branch. Its mandate includes probing offences linked to examinations conducted by key central bodies such as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), and the National Testing Agency (NTA). Additionally, the task force will look into cases involving recruitment exams organised by various ministries, departments, and their attached or subordinate offices under the Central government.

“The task force will investigate offences involving any other authority notified by the Central government from time to time,” the officer stated. Beyond investigation, the STF is tasked with coordinating with prosecuting agencies to ensure swift prosecution and facilitate the day-to-day conduct of trials in such cases.

This initiative follows several high-profile paper leak incidents in recent years, which have raised concerns about the integrity of competitive examinations in India. The new law, passed earlier this year, provides for stringent penalties, including up to 10 years of imprisonment and fines, for those involved in organised cheating, leakage of question papers, or tampering with answer keys.

Legal experts have welcomed the formation of the STF as a step towards restoring confidence in the examination system. However, they stress the need for consistent enforcement and transparency to ensure the law serves its intended purpose.