Maharashtra HSC Chemistry exam integrity has been upheld, with board officials confirming no paper leak and no re-examination necessary. Two individuals were arrested in Nagpur by police for allegedly sharing chemistry exam questions on a WhatsApp group. The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education stated the incident does not constitute a leak.
Police apprehended the accused early February 18, 2026. Investigations are ongoing to identify the source of the paper circulation. One arrested individual is connected to a small tuition center. The other was a member of the WhatsApp group where the questions appeared.
The alleged circulation was detected at St. Ursulas College in Mankapur. An invigilator became suspicious of a student using the washroom for an extended period during the 11 AM chemistry exam. The student was found with a prohibited mobile phone.
Investigation Details
Further examination revealed a WhatsApp image of the Chemistry question paper. The image was shared between 10:37 AM and 10:40 AM. This occurred minutes before the exam’s start time. Police also found that the Physics paper from February 16 was shared on the same group earlier that day.
Authorities reported 12 students were members of the WhatsApp group. The student found with the phone reportedly saw the message notification. However, she did not open it. She could not use the phone during the exam. Officials state she gained no advantage from the shared paper.
Another student from the group was questioned. Her phone confirmed her membership in the group. Board officials confirmed the HSC exam will continue as scheduled. The circulation was limited to one WhatsApp group with few participants.
Board Procedures and Past Incidents
Past similar incidents prompted the board to revise exam procedures. Previously, sealed question paper bundles opened 10 minutes before the exam. This was suspected to allow photography and sharing. Current procedures involve distributing question papers at the scheduled time. Students now receive an additional 10 minutes at the exam’s conclusion.