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AHMEDABAD: Results of 850 Class X students were cancelled by Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) after authorities found major discrepancies between their optical mark recognition (OMR) and descriptive exam results. These students had scored 40-49 marks out of 50 in the objective question paper but scored only 0-3 marks in descriptive papers raising strong suspicion that mass copying had happened.

The suspicion was confirmed when the students, summoned in batches of 100 each for questioning, could not even do basic math like adding 2+2+2 or give correct answers to simple single-digit multiplication. The majority of the students could not even write the correct spelling of 'cricket' and drew a blank when asked 'What is the capital of Gujarat?'

"Results of 850 students from 10-odd centres in Dahod, Mahisagar, Tapi and parts of Saurashtra have been cancelled. While there is no proof of mass copying, our questioning of the students was a huge shocker as the SSC students could not answer basic questions which a grade 2-5 student easily can," said RR Thakkar, vice-chairman of GSHSEB.While the poor education level of the students prompted authorities to take action, how the students selectively wrote correct answers remains a mystery.

"All CCTV footage was checked and there is no hint of mass copying," said board member K A Butani.

