The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) clarified on Monday that there would not be any delay in the release of the result of Class 12 or Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination due to the re-examination of economics paper that the board had conducted on April 25th, a month after the scheduled date.

A senior board official clarified to Press Trust of India (PTI), “The results will be declared on time as the evaluation is in an advanced stage despite re-exam of the economics paper. We have rigorously followed up with schools to send more evaluators than the required number.”

There were reports of leak in both the Class 12th and 10th CBSE examination papers, but the board decided against a re-test for 10th standard students as it was an “internal segment” of education system. Students had carried out protests in Delhi demanding action against the culprits and claimed that the board has been negligent.

The leak of the Class 12 exam paper came to light when an envelope containing a hand-written economics paper was delivered to the CBSE office in Delhi on the evening of the day of exam, March 26th.

The CBSE then rescheduled the exam, setting a new date of April 2nd, and tried to email the encrypted question paper to the schools directly. However, some schools were unable to get the printout on time and the exam was delayed.

The Delhi Police stated that the leak occurred on March 23rd, three days before the scheduled examination. Investigators have made multiple arrests in several parts of the country. Three alleged conspirators who were integral to the leak, it is claimed, are from Una, Himachal Pradesh. The three main accused are employees of a school in the town.

The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has set up a panel to examine the protocol and process followed by the CBSE to conduct the examination and will suggest measures to make the process more foolproof and secure. The seven-member panel headed by former HRD Secretary, Vinay Sheel Oberoi, is expected submit the report by May 31st this year.