IIT Bombay prepares to revise exam protocols; students caught cheating will still be allowed to complete the entire paper..

IIT Bombay is preparing to revise its examination protocols. New rules are being considered in the wake of the alleged suicide of student Sahil Wakode. Under these proposed revised rules, a student caught cheating will still be given the opportunity to complete the exam. Additionally, several student-friendly provisions have been included in the proposal. For instance, the aim of these proposed rules—offered as interim suggestions—is to alter the approach to handling cases involving suspected cheating or the use of unfair means, and to ensure that a student is not left isolated in such situations. The proposed rules were presented during a special meeting of the IIT Bombay Senate on Wednesday; they await formal approval for implementation.

Let us examine the matter in detail and look at the new rules proposed by IIT Bombay regarding changes to its exam protocols.

**Suggestions from an 8-member committee**
The proposed revised rules that IIT Bombay is considering as interim measures originated from an 8-member committee. This committee comprises four faculty members and four students. The committee presented its interim report during a special meeting of the IIT Bombay Senate on Wednesday. It was constituted following the alleged suicide of Sahil Wakode, a second-year B.Tech student, who took his own life on September 18.

**New booklet if cheating is suspected**
Under the proposed revised exam protocols, if an invigilator suspects a student of cheating during an examination, they will confiscate the incriminating material. Simultaneously, the invigilator will record the incident and provide the student with a new answer booklet. The invigilator will record the entire incident on a form, which will allow the student to continue with the exam.

**Disciplinary Action Committee to take action; student to get a chance to present their side**
Under the proposed revised rules, the invigilator's role concludes once the case of cheating is registered; further action will be handled by the Disciplinary Action Committee. The proposed rules also ensure that the accused student is given an opportunity to present their side. The student will record their statement separately in the presence of staff members.

**Alert to be sent to QRT**
The proposed revised rules mandate that the QRT helpline be informed about the incident immediately after the exam concludes; an alert will be sent to the QRT helpline right after the student leaves the examination hall. This measure aims to ensure that the accused student is not left alone immediately after the exam.

**New rules put on hold; 2015 rules temporarily reinstated**
IIT Bombay had implemented stricter penalty rules for dealing with cases like cheating—replacing the 2015 regulations—starting in July. The IIT Bombay administration has now put these new rules on hold and reinstated the 2015 regulations.

The new rules included provisions for assigning an 'FR' (Fail and Repeat) grade and suspending the student for one semester if caught carrying a mobile phone into the examination hall. In contrast, the 2015 rules stipulate a penalty of one grade reduction for carrying a phone and an 'FR' grade for actually using it.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from TV9. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.