Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Mass cheating during UPSC examination at a UP centre.
Fact
Video recorded during a law examination at UP’s Barabanki.
Allegations of submitting fake certificates for UPSC qualification against probationary IAS officer Pooja Khedkar have brought the civil service examinations under social media scrutiny. In this backdrop, a video purportedly showing a mass cheating incident at an examination centre in Uttar Pradesh is going viral on social media platforms. Those sharing the video claimed that it is from a “UPSE” (UPSC) examination, adding “that’s why maximum IAS, IPS officers from north.” Newschecker, however, found the claim to be untrue.
Multiple X and Facebook users shared a two-minute-twenty-second-long video allegeding mass cheating during UPSC examination in Uttar Pradesh.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Newschecker also received the claim on our WhatsApp tipline (+91- 9999499044) requesting to be fact checked.
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Fact Check/Verification
We noticed that the text accompanying the viral footage states, “UPSE exam’s malpractices that’s why maximum IAS, IPS officers from north.” Notably, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the civil service examinations in India, and hence these are popularly termed “UPSC Exam”
A keyword search for “UPSE Exam” did not yield any credible results. We found a few YouTube videos titled “UPSE CSE…,” such as this and this. However, on skimming through the videos, we could conclude them to be tutorials for the UPSC examinations only.
But Is The Video From UPSC Examination?
On carefully analysing the viral clip, we heard the man saying, “City Law College, Barabanki.”
Taking a clue, we looked up keywords “City Law College,” “Barabanki” and “Cheating” on Google which yielded an India Today report, dated March 1, 2024. Carrying screengrabs from the viral video, the report stated, “A shocking case of cheating has emerged from a college in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, where students were caught blatantly copying during an LLB examination.”
“The video of students cheating went viral on social media. It depicts students openly cheating in the presence of teachers…Authorities swiftly responded to the incident. A total of 26 students were apprehended for cheating during the examination,” it added.
A Zee News Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand report from February 2024 also corroborated that the incident relates to an LLB examination at City Law College in UP’s Barabanki.
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Carrying snippets from the same video, an Aaj Tak report identified the whistleblower as one Shivam, a law student at TRC Law College. Shivam claimed that the college demanded Rs 50,000 to facilitate cheating during examination. On refusal to pay the same, he was denied the admit card and was asked to go to the City Law College. He was not given the admit card at City Law College as well, however, he claimed to witness students using guides in the examination and made a video of the same.
After the video went viral, the Vice Chancellor of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia University formed a committee to investigate the matter, reported ETV Bharat. It also carried a video byte of Shivam Singh, student of the fifth semester of three-year LLB at TRC Law College, who made the viral clip.
Detailing the action against the cheating incident, a Dainik Bhaskar report said that the law examination held on February 27 at the City Law College was cancelled. The college was fined Rs 2 Lakhs, and was barred from being an examination centre for the next six years.
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Conclusion
Hence, the viral video claiming to show mass cheating during UPSC Examination at a UP centre is false.
Result: False
Sources
Report By India Today, Dated March 1, 2024
Report By Zee News Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand, Dated February 27, 2024
YouTube Video By Aaj Tak, Dated February 29, 2024
Report By ETV Bharat, Dated February 28, 2024
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
