Recent reports detail two separate incidents involving irregularities in the education sector in India. One case concerns the embezzlement of scholarship funds in Khargone, while the other involves the cancellation of a Class 12 English examination in Himachal Pradesh due to a paper leak.

In Khargone, police have registered a case against three officials from the backward classes and minority welfare department for allegedly embezzling over Rs 84 lakh in scholarship funds. According to Khargone Collector Bhavya Mittal, the case was filed against Itisha Jain, assistant director of the backward classes minority welfare department; Ashish Dubey, a DDO creator; and Shekhar Rawat, a clerk. The embezzlement reportedly occurred between 2021 and 2023, involving payments to approximately 80 fake accounts, totaling Rs 84,39,977. Collector Mittal noted that despite instructions to take action, Itisha Jain allegedly failed to register a case or conduct a departmental inquiry.

An inquiry report, submitted by Assistant Commissioner Adivasi Vikas Prashant Arya, Additional Collector JS Baghel, and District Treasury Officer Anand Patel, indicated that Itisha Jain did not adequately discharge her responsibilities and monitor the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) approver. While Jain claimed to have exposed the scam and that her signatures were forged, authorities have not excused her from the case. Shekhar Rawat, in a video statement, admitted to the fraudulent activity, stating he acted under pressure from lenders and had since repaid the loan. Superintendent of Police Dharamraj Meena confirmed the case registration against Jain, Dubey, and Rawat, adding that Rawat has been arrested and an investigation is underway. Itisha Jain stated that she had informed the then-Collector about the financial irregularities and applied for an FIR against the culprits on February 2. Sources also revealed that the department of backward classes and minority had previously closed the case after warning Itisha Jain against future irregularities.

In a separate incident in Himachal Pradesh, the Board of School Education cancelled the Class 12 English examination for the March 2025 session due to reports of a paper leak. The irregularity occurred at Government Senior Secondary School, Chowari, in District Chamba. Faculty members mistakenly opened the Class 12 English question paper instead of the Class 10 paper. The examination schedule had allocated March 7 for the Class 10 English paper and March 8 for the Class 12 English paper. An anonymous tip received by the Board on March 7 alleged the premature unsealing of the Class 12 English question paper.

An investigation by the Board validated the allegation using video documentation from the “Exam Mitra App,” a system recently implemented for enhanced examination monitoring. Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education secretary Vishal Sharma, under the authority of Section 2.1.2 of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education Examination Regulations, 1993, directed the immediate statewide cancellation of the Class 12 English examination. The Board stated that a new date for the examination would be announced later and advised students to check the official HPBOSE website or contact their educational institutions for updates.