Raipur’s Indira Gandhi Agricultural University on Thursday (August 20, 2026) cancelled a second year undergraduate entomology examination following allegations of the question paper being leaked. The action was taken after students protested, alleging that copies of the question paper were circulated on social media hours before the exam was due to start.

Around 1,500 students across the State, enrolled in various colleges affiliated to the Indira Gandhi Agricultural University or Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, are said to have appeared for the AENT 221 [Pest Management in Crops and Stored Grains - I (Rabi Crops)] of the second year, second semester of the B.Sc. (Agriculture) course before it was cancelled.

One student enrolled in an agriculture college within the university campus, who did not wish to be identified, said that the scheduled exam commencement time was 10 a.m., 30 minutes prior to which the bundle of question papers was first opened. However, from the previous night, he and others in the Raipur campus, had received calls from other centres that the question paper had been leaked.

“Initially, we treated them as rumours and appeared for the exam. Later, after coming out, we learnt that around 8.30 a.m., the university had received an email that the paper had been leaked. Additionally, around the same time, an image of a text file appeared on WhatsApp with a list of 18 questions, all of which were asked in the examination. This led to protests, and ultimately, the cancellation of the exam,” the student said, adding that this was the last exam for the semester.

An order issued by Director (Instructions)/ Controller of Examinations said the exam had been cancelled due to “administrative reasons”. The university was also in the process of filing a police complaint in the evening.

“It is hereby informed to all the students of B.Sc. (Ag.) II Year, II Semester, 6th Dean, Academic Session 2025-26 that the examination of AENT 221 [Pest Management in crops and stored grains - I(Rabi Crops)], conducted on 20.08.2026, has been cancelled due to administrative reasons,” the order issued by Director (Instructions) Vijay Kumar said.

The university administration had cancelled the examination and a five-member committee had been formed to investigate the matter, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, reacting to the controversy. “An investigation will take place, and once the report is submitted after the probe, strict action will be taken against those found guilty,” he said.

The Opposition Congress targeted the State’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, referring to the recent countrywide protests on the issue of paper leaks. “The news of a question paper leak before the exam is extremely serious and concerning. This matter should be investigated. Youth across the country are protesting against paper leaks and yet another paper leak has occurred in Chhattisgarh under the BJP’s rule,” Congress spokesperson Vandana Rajput said.

Published - August 20, 2026 10:03 pm IST