BAMS Exam At Gujarat Ayurved University Under Scanner After Questions Go Viral On WhatsApp; Students Protest

The Gujarat Ayurved University (GAU) in Jamnagar has ordered an inquiry into allegations of a paper leak in the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) examination conducted on July 20, following a representation submitted by student organisations, reported PTI.

The controversy pertains to the third professional BAMS examination for the Shalya Tantra-I subject. The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the Youth Congress have alleged that 11 of the 12 questions in the paper matched those circulated on WhatsApp before the examination.

NSUI’s Junagadh district president, Mayur Savaliya, alleged that the BAMS question paper had been leaked and demanded immediate cancellation of the examination along with legal action against those

responsible. He also warned of protests if the university failed to take action.

Representatives of the NSUI and Youth Congress also raised the matter with university authorities, urging a thorough investigation into the alleged leak.

Speaking on the issue, GAU’s In-charge Examination Controller HP Zala said, “There was Shalya-I paper on July 20. The examination was conducted in the morning and concluded at 12.30 pm. In the evening, I received information that some ‘important’ questions had allegedly been circulated on mobile phones before the examination.” Zala told reporters that GAU swung into action after receiving the representation and would investigate the matter following discussions with the Vice-Chancellor.

“We have to first establish whether the allegations are true or false. An investigation committee will be constituted after discussions with the Vice-Chancellor, who is currently away. Once the committee completes its inquiry, further action, including filing a police complaint if required, will be considered,” Zala said.

He said the university’s regulations provide for action against anyone found responsible, irrespective of the level at which any breach may have occurred.

“The ongoing examinations across 20 to 25 affiliated colleges would continue as scheduled. No complaints have been received regarding any other paper,” Zala informed.

The issue was first flagged to Zala by Dr. Ritesh Sarsaniya, a professor at Government Ayurved College, Junagadh, who was serving on the university’s examination squad on the day of the test. He stated he alerted the university after a faculty member brought to his notice WhatsApp messages containing “important points” related to the subject, which closely matched the questions that appeared in the examination.

“Based on a preliminary comparison, it appeared that 11 out of the 12 questions asked in the examination were same as those in the Whatsapp message. Only the university and subject experts can determine the facts through an official inquiry,” he told reporters in Junagadh.

Meanwhile, the Congress targeted the Narendra Modi government over the alleged paper leak, arguing that the Centre’s proposal for fast-track courts addresses the aftermath rather than the systemic problem.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X highlighting that, in the wake of the NEET controversy, a reputed Ayurved university in Gujarat had also come under the scanner over suspected paper leaks.

Posting a newspaper clipping, Ramesh claimed that Gujarat had witnessed 34 paper leak incidents between 2014 and 2024.

In a post in Hindi on X, Ramesh said “Another day another paper leak – this time in the Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar. This is not an exception. Gujarat has witnessed 34 paper leaks between 2014 and 2024…Gujarat under the BJP has become the epicentre of all paper leaks in India.”

“The Modi Government’s 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,” he said.