JSSC PGT Exam Scam: Accused Claims Centres Were Managed and Software Hacked

The investigation into alleged large-scale irregularities in the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission’s Post Graduate Trained Teacher Competitive Examination (PGTCE) 2023 has brought forward serious allegations about how the examination system was manipulated.

In a statement recorded before the CID, accused Abhay Tiwari allegedly described how he secured the PGT-English examination through a pre-arranged deal with a person identified as Ajay Sangram. According to his statement, he was subsequently appointed in Deoghar district.

The statement also reportedly names a candidate identified as Sunil Kumar in connection with the Commerce subject. The accused claimed that Sunil Kumar too obtained the job through a similar arrangement.

According to the alleged confession, the manipulation was not limited to individual candidates. Examination centres were reportedly selected and managed in advance to facilitate the operation. The network allegedly relied on software hacking and remote access to interfere with the examination process.

The accused further claimed that candidates who had entered into such arrangements were given specific instructions before reaching the examination centre. These reportedly included wearing clothes of a particular colour and standing in a designated queue, which allegedly helped those operating the network identify the candidates.

The allegations, if established during the investigation, point to a coordinated mechanism rather than isolated cheating by individual candidates. The claims also raise questions about the security of examination software, remote-access controls, centre-level monitoring and the systems used to prevent unauthorised interference.

The CID investigation is expected to establish the authenticity of the allegations, identify other people who may have been involved and determine the extent to which examination centres, technology and candidates were allegedly linked to the suspected racket. The statements recorded during the investigation will also have to be corroborated with digital evidence, examination records and other material before the allegations can be conclusively established.