Sunil Mohan Patnaik Brahmapur

Seriousallegations of malpractice have surfaced during the Odisha University of Health Sciences (OUHS) postgraduate examinations at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, after photographs of the General Surgery MD/MS question paper were allegedly circulated through WhatsApp while the examination was in progress. The incident has triggered official inquiries and prompted authorities to tighten security by banning mobile phones and electronic devices at the examination centres.

The controversy relates to the General Surgery MD/MS examination for the 2023–26 batch held on July 27. Sources alleged that images of the question paper, and reportedly even answers from some numbers, were shared in WhatsApp groups during the examination, raising concerns over the integrity of the process.

Following formal complaints, an OUHS team has initiated a preliminary inquiry and visited MKCG Medical College to investigate the incident. The institution has also launched an internal probe to identify how the question paper was photographed and circulated. The creators and members of the WhatsApp groups under scrutiny are also being investigated.

Dean and Principal of MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Harekrishna Dalai, said stringent action would be taken against anyone found guilty. He clarified that the incident did not amount to a “question paper leak” since the paper was allegedly photographed and shared only after it had been distributed inside the examination hall. According to him, the images began circulating at around 9.58 am, minutes after the examination commenced.

Dalai said routine security checks were conducted, but a mobile phone or another electronic gadget might have been smuggled into the examination hall. He added that a virtual meeting convened by the OUHS Vice-Chancellor had reviewed the incident and issued fresh instructions for the remaining examinations.

The episode has sparked concern among students and the medical fraternity, with demands for a thorough investigation, greater transparency and stronger safeguards to ensure the credibility of future examinations.