No slogans on answer sheets, Bengal issues guidelines for higher secondary exams

In the wake of protests following the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education has released new guidelines for next year's higher secondary examinations. The council has warned that any "political slogans" written on answer sheets could lead to the cancellation of the candidate's exam.

Traditionally, the council publishes guidelines to address potential misconduct during exams. However, this year's guidelines specifically reference the widespread protests sparked by the R G Kar incident, which saw significant participation from students, teachers, and even football fans across the state.

According to the guidelines, students engaging in "indecorous writing, drawing, or political slogans" in their exam papers will be deemed guilty of misconduct or malpractice. The council also reiterated that enclosing currency notes to bribe invigilators or gain unfair advantages will result in severe penalties.

A senior official from the School Education Department explained that the scale of protests following the R G Kar incident prompted the council to issue these specific guidelines. The protests have raised concerns that similar expressions could occur during the examinations.