Gujarat BAMS Paper Leak: GAU orders probe as congress attacks centre over exam security

Days after the controversy over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, another examination in Gujarat has come under the scanner over allegations of a question paper leak. The Congress has targeted the Centre over the alleged leak of the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) examination paper, arguing that the government's proposed fast-track courts would not address the recurring problem of examination paper leaks. The issue concerns the Shalya Tantra-I paper of the third professional BAMS examination conducted by Gujarat Ayurved University (GAU) on July 20.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh wrote on X, “This is not an exception. Gujarat has witnessed 34 paper leaks between 2014 and 2024. The GPSC Chief Officer’s Paper in 2014, Talati Paper in 2015 and 2016, the TAT -Teacher Paper, Mukhya Sevika Paper, Nayab Chitnis Paper and Lokarakshak Dal Paper in 2018, the Non-Secretariat Clerk Exam in 2019, the Head Clerk, DGVCL Vidyut Assistant and Sub Auditor Exams in 2021, the Forest Guard Exam in 2022 and the Junior Clerk exam in 2023 were all leaked. Even the infamous UP police recruitment examination leak of 2024 was orchestrated from Ahmedabad. Gujarat under the BJP has become the “epicentre of all paper leaks in India.”

Ramesh also pointed out that the "fast-track courts are not a solution to this systemic issue. It is a diversion. We need a larger and more honest conversation on how to reform our examination and education system."

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University orders inquiry into allegations

According to a PTI report, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and the Youth Congress claimed that the 11 of the 12 questions in the Shalya Tantra-I paper were similar to the ones being circulated on WhatsApp prior to the exam. NSUI Junagadh district president Mayur Savaliya said that the examination should be cancelled and the responsible ones should be held to account otherwise they would face protest.

The GAU In-charge examination controller HP Zala said after the exam was concluded at 12:30 pm, in the evening, he received the information that some 'important' questions had allegedly been distributed on mobile phones before the examination.

He further stated that they have to investigate whether the allegations are true or false. They will create an investigation committee after discussions with the Vice-Chancellor. After the inquiry, further actions will be taken.

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Exams ongoing amid investigation

As per PTI report, if someone is responsible for any breaches under the university's regulations, they shall be dealt with accordingly, Zala said, regardless of the level of any breaches. He also stated that examinations of other colleges affiliated with the university were to continue as per the schedule, and there were no complaints against any other examination paper being the subject of an ongoing examination.

The issue was first brought to the attention of Dr Ritesh Sarsaniya, a professor at Junagadh's Government Ayurved College, who received information regarding "important points" being sent on WhatsApp from a faculty member at the college, which matched the actual examination paper. Only an official inquiry can determine the facts, he said.