Drone Surveillance Unveils Exam Malpractice in Maharashtra

Five teachers were suspended after drones uncovered widespread cheating during a Class 12 exam in Beed, Maharashtra. The incident led to FIRs against 17 teachers under the Maharashtra Universities Act for malpractice, prompting the Education Department to take disciplinary action against implicated staff across several institutions.

In a significant crackdown on exam malpractice, authorities in Maharashtra's Beed district have suspended five teachers after the use of drones revealed widespread cheating during the Class 12 exams. The incident occurred on February 10, at Centre 224 in Chousala.

Drone-mounted cameras captured numerous instances of supervisors and teachers failing to prevent cheating, with some allegedly helping students cheat openly. This led to the filing of an FIR against 17 teachers, including the chief conductor, under the state's prevention of malpractices in examinations act.

Following the discovery, Beed Collector Vivek Johnson mandated stringent actions, resulting in suspensions and ongoing investigations into additional staff. The Education Department has directed the implicated schools to suspend those involved as the probe deepens.

(With inputs from agencies.)