Cheating During CBSE Board Exams 2024: Check Penalty for cheating in CBSE 10th 12th board exams

Students as well as teachers must note that CBSE has made strict norms under “Examination Bye Laws” against use of unfair means during CBSE Class 10, 12 board exams 2024. CBSE cheating rules are not just threatening but strict as well! Read further to know What happens if you get caught cheating in CBSE board exam?

Penalty for cheating in CBSE board: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has commenced the CBSE Board Exams 2023 for Class 10, 12 from February 15. With the beginning of board exams, reports regarding use of malpractices and cheating in CBSE board exams 2024 also starts emerging. But, before thinking of using unfair means during board exams, students must know what happens if you get caught cheating in CBSE board exam 2024?

Students as well as teachers must note that CBSE has made strict norms under “Examination Bye Laws” against use of unfair means during CBSE Class 10, 12 board exams 2024. CBSE cheating rules are not just threatening but strict as well! CBSE Examination Bye Laws document is available online at https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/examinationbyelaws.html

What happens if you get caught cheating in CBSE board exam?

“Normally when any Student is caught using unfair means we cancel his/her paper and issue a fresh answersheet (though that sheet is not checked). This is done because these days one is not sure how Students will react if we straight away make UFM case. Then we call the parents and give them a fresh date for retest,” said Ajinder Kaur, Senior In-charge, of DAV Public School (Pushpanjali Enclave).

“We at DAV pushpanjali understand that if Student is using unfair means then definitely he is under pressure to perform so we not only counsel the child but also talk to the parents. If during board exams UFM case is made, Student is barred from sitting in exams for next three years. I also strongly feel that earlier cheating was done by students who were not serious about their studies and even parents would feel humiliated even their kids were caught cheating but now this is changing. Students plan to cheat and are not affected even caught,” she added.

While schools try to opt for both lenient and strict methods to deal with student caught cheating during CBSE Board Exams 2023, such students are also advised to go through CBSE Examination Bye Laws carefully before taking any such step. The second point of ‘36.2 Identification and Reporting of Unfair Means Cases’ under CBSE Examination Bye Laws states, “As soon as it comes or is brought to the notice of the Centre Superintendent that a candidate has smuggled out an answer book, he/she should call for the student directly or through the Principal of the school concerned and try to secure the answer book. In case of nonavailability of the answer book, the matter should be reported to the police and a copy of the report be sent to the office of the Board along with the statements of the Asstt. Supdts. present in the room and also of the candidate.”

• In case of impersonation, the Centre Superintendent should send to the Board's office, the statement of the person found to be impersonating, the Asstt. Supdts. and that of the real candidate, if possible. The Centre Superintendent shall also report the matter to the police.
• In case of misconduct of a serious nature, the matter should be reported to the Police, if necessary. Statements of the Asstt. Supdt.(s) and that of the peon/policeman concerned may be obtained and sent to the office of the Board for further action.
• If a candidate is found guilty of communicating or attempting to communicate either directly or indirectly with an examiner or any other person connected with the examination with the object of influencing him/her in any way, he/she shall be deemed to have used unfair means and shall be liable to punishment under the rules.

“If, in an answer paper, any case of copying of a particular answer is found, e.g. when answers of two or more candidates are found matching or identical, the examiner will mark such cases and forward them with a report to his/ her Head Examiner (HE) who will duly scrutinize the case and forward it with his/her own remarks, in a sealed cover, to the Controller of Examinations (CE) of the Board for necessary action. If such a case comes to the notice of the HE himself/herself, he/she will forward the same immediately, with his/her remarks in a sealed cover to the CE of the Board for further action,” said Sangeeta Srivastava, English PGT, Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Lucknow. 

Penalty for cheating in CBSE board

Talking about the imposition of penalties on students caught cheating during CBSE board exams 2023, Srivastava added, “If a candidate is found using unfair means during the examination, his/her result shall be declared as ‘Unfair Means’ (UFM). However, before any penalty is imposed, such students will get a chance to appear personally before the result committee (RC) and explain their misconduct, failing which the ex-parte decision of the RC will be final. The names of such candidates can also be communicated to other universities as well as to the different Public Service Commissions in the country.”

She further talked about counselling student using unfair means during CBSE 10^th, 12^th Board Exams 2023. “The children, of course, should be properly counselled to make them aware of the culpability of the act. They should be encouraged to work hard and not spoil their future by such unethical practice,” Srivastava said.

What is the punishment for cheating in CBSE board?

If you are still wondering, What is the punishment for cheating in CBSE board?, 36.3 of CBSE Examination Bye Laws, Imposition of Penalties, states, “All cases of Unfair Means shall be reported to the Result Committee and the result of such candidates shall be disposed of in a manner and as recommended by the Result Committee of the Board.”

Other important points included under Penalty for cheating in CBSE board in CBSE Examination Bye Laws include:

• Before any penalty is imposed, under any of the provisions of these byelaws, on a candidate reported to have used unfair means, he/she shall be given an opportunity for explaining his/ her conduct. He/she will be required to appear personally before the Result Committee to explain his/her conduct for consideration of the Result Committee. In case he/she does not avail himself/herself of the opportunity by the given date, ex-parte decision taken by the Result Committee shall be final.
• If the Board is satisfied that the use of Unfair means in a paper or papers has been widespread at a centre, the Board has the right to cancel the result of all candidates of that centre, in the paper or papers concerned or even the entire examination at the centre, if several papers are involved.
• The names of candidates, who are punished under any of the above rules, shall be communicated to all the Schools affiliated to the Board, Universities, Boards and other Organisations which conduct Secondary School Examination, Senior School Certificate Examination, Intermediate or equivalent examinations and to the various State Governments as well as to the different Public Service Commissions in the country.

CBSE Class 10, 12 board exams are scheduled between February 15 and April 2. The board has also released CBSE 10th admit card and CBSE 12th admit card. Students are advised to practice CBSE model papers and prepare well for board exams 2024instead of cheating during CBSE Board Exams 2024. Cheating or using unfair means during CBSE exams might get one good marks but if get caught Penalty for cheating in CBSE exams can also ruin one's whole career.

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