Utkal University exam leak: police complaint filed, internal inquiry launched

Utkal University authorities have lodged a police complaint at Saheednagar police station on Friday, September 19, 2026, over an alleged leak of a question paper for the ongoing second-semester degree examination. The alleged leak specifically concerns a Plus Three (+3) Second Semester Commerce paper for Thursday’s theory exam, with reports indicating snapshots of the paper circulated on social media platforms like WhatsApp a day prior to the scheduled test.

The incident has sparked outrage among students and political parties in Odisha, raising questions about the integrity of the examination process. The second-semester degree exam, which began on September 12 and is being conducted across approximately 300 affiliated colleges, is scheduled to wrap up on September 24.

University Initiates Police Complaint and Internal Probe

Hrusikesh Nayak, Controller of Examinations at Utkal University, confirmed that the university learned about the alleged leak from unverified sources. A formal complaint was next lodged at Saheednagar police station to verify the source of the alleged leak. The university administration submitted a written complaint to local police, including screenshots of viral posts, and has requested a thorough investigation by the Cyber Cell.

In parallel, a high-level internal inquiry led directly by the Vice-Chancellor has been instituted. Dr. Nayak stated that if the leak is proven true, the affected examination may be canceled and re-conducted. He further added that the university authorities will first verify the authenticity of these papers and then take necessary action. The university will examine the entire chain of custody to establish where the security lapse occurred.

Concerns over Examination Security Protocols

The university maintains a traditional, decentralized method for managing exams for tens of thousands of students. If you look at Hrusikesh Nayak, sealed question papers are sent to respective colleges in advance, and these packets are mandated to be opened only 30 minutes before the exam begins, typically at 9:30 AM for a 10:00 AM exam. Dr. Nayak stated, “We have not heard about the leak from our own sources and colleges, which are conducting the exam.” He also mentioned, “On the allegation of the question paper leak of Commerce paper on social media, we have lodged a complaint to find out the source of the leak.”

The alleged circulation of question papers on social media a day before the scheduled tests suggests a potential systemic breakdown or a severe custody breach prior to the official opening time. Students have voiced their concerns, with one student noting, “It affects our preparation and puts us under pressure about when the examination will be held again and what questions will be asked.”

Political Reactions and Broader Implications

The alleged exam paper leak has drawn condemnation from political parties. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) condemned the incident, claiming it is one of 25 instances of exam failures, cancellations, postponements, question-paper irregularities, and other lapses that students and job aspirants in the state have faced in the two years of the BJP-led government. The BJD stated, “The latest incident at Utkal University has again raised serious questions about the government’s ability to conduct exams in a fair, transparent and secure manner.”

The timing of this incident is politically significant, as the Congress party is attempting to rebuild its grassroots foundation around student and youth issues in Odisha. The Congress won 14 of Odisha’s 147 seats in the 2024 Assembly election with approximately 13.3% of the vote. Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Bhubaneswar in October for the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ rally, an initiative aiming to draw nearly 20,000 students to address issues like education and unemployment. Bhakta Charan Das, a Congress leader, has been actively involved in this initiative, making the Utkal University incident a timely political talking point.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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