The Odisha ANM second-year annual examination has been postponed indefinitely after a question paper leak surfaced just hours before the scheduled test. The incident has triggered a sharp political confrontation in Odisha, with the opposition alleging repeated failures in conducting secure recruitment and academic examinations. The state government, however, has defended the decision as a necessary step to ensure fairness and transparency. The ANM examination was scheduled for the afternoon session at 14:00 hours, but reports of the leaked paper circulating on social media emerged around 11:00 hours, forcing authorities to halt the process immediately.
Question Paper Leak Forces Indefinite Postponement of ANM Exam
The Midwifery subject paper of the ANM second-year examination was reportedly circulated through digital platforms before the exam began. Following confirmation of the leak, the authorities ordered an indefinite postponement of the exam across the state. Hundreds of candidates had already reached their allotted examination centres when the postponement was announced. Officials have not declared any revised schedule so far. An official inquiry has been initiated to identify the source of the leak and to fix accountability for the breach. The authorities clarified that the exam was cancelled to prevent unfair advantage and to protect the interests of genuine candidates.
Opposition Alleges 18 Exam Cancellations in 18 Months
Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik strongly criticised the state government, stating that repeated cancellations were “shattering the dreams of thousands of aspirants.” In a public statement, he alleged that around 18 recruitment and academic examinations have been cancelled in the last 18 months. He urged the administration to ensure that examinations are conducted regularly and with full transparency, adding that repeated disruptions were pushing students’ futures into uncertainty. BJD legislator Debi Ranjan Tripathy echoed similar concerns, claiming that earlier paper leaks were rare but had become frequent in the last 24 months. He alleged that nearly every major examination conducted in this period had faced irregularities.
Congress Calls Government Incompetent Over Exam Mismanagement
Congress MLA Pabitra Sahu also criticised the government, stating that repeated exam cancellations reflected administrative failure. He said that students and parents were being “repeatedly disappointed” due to the lack of a reliable examination system. According to him, the cancellation of 18 exams in 18 months alone was enough to question the efficiency of the current administration in handling high-stakes examinations.
State Government Defends Postponement as Necessary for Fair Exams
Responding to the allegations, BJP MLA Ashwini Sarangi defended the government’s decision, stating that the administration was committed to conducting free and fair examinations. He alleged that irregularities had also occurred in the past and that the present government was taking strict action to eliminate malpractice. He added that only deserving candidates would be allowed to appear for examinations and that strong measures were being taken to prevent future leaks.
Investigation Underway, Fresh ANM Exam Date Awaited
Authorities have confirmed that a formal investigation is in progress to trace how the question paper was leaked before the exam. Digital evidence from messaging platforms is being examined. As of now, no fresh date has been announced for the postponed ANM examination, leaving thousands of candidates in uncertainty. Students have been advised to wait for official communication regarding the revised schedule.
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