Maharashtra: 81 staffers suspended for negligence, mass copying, ChatGPT cheating
Big trouble hit this year's Maharashtra board exams as 81 staffers were suspended for alleged negligence and involvement in mass copying and other irregularities, including using ChatGPT to cheat during HSC exams.
The cheating was detected through a mix of flying-squad inspections, CCTV monitoring and drone or vigilance-team interventions across districts including Beed, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Gadchiroli, Washim, Nanded, and Dharashiv.
Major crackdowns across districts
Some of the biggest crackdowns happened in Beed (17 staffers were suspended after mass copying), Washim (28 staffers suspended when 581 students were caught using phones during physics), and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (21 staffers were suspended; FIRs against 23 people).
In Gadchiroli, two teachers, an exam center in-charge and a peon were booked for photographing question papers, sharing them via WhatsApp and using ChatGPT to generate answers for students.
Over 100 exam centers have now lost recognition. The board is still investigating more cases, so expect more action as they try to clean things up.