Internet cut to prevent cheating in exams
1.6m candidates sat for teachers exam in Rajasthan which was held for the first time
Rajasthan worried about cheating in a hotly contested teacher recruitment exam took the drastic step of cutting off the internet to millions of residents for up to 12 hours, leaving many unable to access essential services.
Officials told media the suspension was necessary to “enforce law and order” and prevent fraud during the Rajasthan Eligibility Exam for Teachers - a major step toward getting a coveted position at a government-operated school.
Other anti-cheating measures deployed included video surveillance at testing centres. Still, it didn’t stop some from trying: Ten people were arrested before the exam for allegedly trying to smuggle Bluetooth devices in their flip-flops that would transmit calls to hidden earpieces, police said.
“Internet shutdowns have a harrowing impact on citizens and are often disproportionate in nature,” the Software Freedom Law Centre of India wrote in a Sunday letter to the chief minister of Rajasthan, a member of the Congress party.
Authorities in Jaipur, which has more than 6.6 million residents, urged businesses to shut to avoid disruptions. As many as 90,000 businesses closed during the blackout, the head of a local trade federation said.