AI Cheating Racket Exposed in Maharashtra HSC Exams Using ChatGPT
Board examinations traditionally assess student knowledge, but occasionally, they put the entire examination system itself to the test. A recent incident in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district has done precisely that, revealing how swiftly new technology can be integrated into age-old patterns of academic dishonesty. The case highlights a sophisticated, AI-driven cheating operation that compromised the integrity of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Class 12 examinations.
The Discovery of the AI Cheating Operation
On February 18, 2026, during the HSC exams at an examination center in Chamorshi, a flying squad led by Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Suhas Gade conducted a surprise inspection. The team arrived just before the examination concluded at approximately 4:55 PM. During their inspection, officials discovered scattered chits containing answers that were later identified as having been generated by the artificial intelligence platform, ChatGPT.
According to reports from TNN, the flying squad's investigation intensified when they observed a peon, Suraj Kelzarkar, entering the premises under suspicious circumstances. His mobile phone was immediately seized. A preliminary examination of the device revealed that question papers had been forwarded to a teacher at the same school, Mahendra Kirme. This discovery pointed to a coordinated effort to cheat using advanced technology.
The Method: From Question Paper to Printed Answer
Subsequent inquiries unveiled a meticulously planned process. The operation involved photographing or relaying questions from inside the examination hall, inputting them into ChatGPT to generate responses, printing the answers at a nearby location, and then circulating them back to students for copying. What set this episode apart was not the intent to cheat, but the tool employed. The traditional handwritten chit was replaced by a digital query, and the whispered answer was supplanted by an automated, AI-generated response.
Education department sources indicated that the political science, chemistry, and physics papers were likely compromised in this scheme. The use of ChatGPT in real-time during exams represents a significant escalation in cheating tactics, leveraging cutting-edge technology to bypass conventional safeguards.
Official Response and Actions Taken
Suhas Gade stated that the irregularities became evident during routine checks. "We formed a probe committee under the education officer. Actions were initiated to suspend four persons," he confirmed, according to TNN. Vasudev Bhuse, the education officer for secondary education, reported that the matter had been escalated to the HSC board.
Bhuse detailed the disciplinary measures: "School teacher Sushil Lanjewar, exam centre conductor Mahendra Burlewar, another teacher Mahendra Kirme, and a peon Suraj Kelzarkar have been named in a First Information Report. While Lanjewar has been suspended, action will be taken against other accused too." This swift response underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating the breach.
Gadchiroli: A District in Transition
The location of this incident adds a compelling layer to the story. Gadchiroli, once primarily known as a Maoist-affected district, has in recent years focused on expanding educational access and improving outcomes for its youth. It is also an area often characterized by limited digital penetration. The emergence of an AI-powered cheating racket in this setting illustrates how rapidly technological tools can permeate beyond metropolitan classrooms and elite coaching centers, reaching even remote regions.
The Broader Implications for Examination Systems
This incident does not suggest that examinations have been fundamentally transformed overnight. However, it starkly reveals that oversight mechanisms designed to combat earlier forms of copying are being severely tested by newer, more advanced methods. When exam questions can be transmitted within minutes and answers generated almost instantaneously, the gap between supervision and circumvention narrows dramatically.
For students, the immediate consequences may include cancelled papers or intensified security checks. For administrators, the challenge is far more profound. Public examinations rely less on their difficulty and more on their credibility. Each breach, whether analog or digital, shifts focus from student preparation to institutional vigilance and adaptability.
What unfolded in Chamorshi was not merely an isolated case of individual misconduct. It serves as a potent reminder that examination systems are only as robust as their weakest procedural link. As AI tools become increasingly commonplace, the critical question is no longer whether they will infiltrate the exam ecosystem, but how quickly and effectively authorities can adapt to their presence and mitigate their misuse.
