Mumbai: Putting its July 2026 rules on penalties for academic misconduct on hold and reverting to the (milder) April 2015 policy for two pending mid-semester examinations on Oct 10 and 11, IIT-Bombay’s senate, at its emergency meeting on Wednesday, agreed on an interim procedure under which faculty members may record suspected dishonesty by a student in a prescribed form, with students allowed to submit their own written accounts in a different sheet.
There will be two different forms in the event of a suspected case of cheating, and it is optional for the student concerned to submit their version, according to the interim arrangement now finalised. A source said the forms were only a means of collecting information and did not amount to pressing charges. After the exam, the invigilator may complete the form and offer the student an opportunity to record their account at a designated venue in the presence of additional staff, said the report.
The committee will meet only a week after the entire exam season ends. The original answer book will be collected and the student allowed to continue writing in a fresh one for the remaining exam time.
The matter will then be placed before the departmental disciplinary action committee (DDAC), which will decide how the case proceeds. Faculty members and students will be required to appear before the committee and provide additional information as needed.
Under the 2015 guidelines, using a mobile phone during an exam attracted an FR (fail-repeat) grade. The July 2026 policy added a semester’s suspension, which sources said would not apply to a first offence under the interim arrangement. Sources said they spent about 30 hours preparing the interim procedure.
“We want to convey we trust our students, though we will verify by doing thorough invigilation,” said a faculty member. Another source said an invigilator who suspected something could call a counsellor and ask the student to empty pockets. Sources said the arrangement would “ease the burden on faculty handling suspected cheating, with professional counsellors providing support.
Repeat offences would attract suspension. Using phones, chits, books or other unauthorised material during toilet or bio-breaks would continue to attract FR and a semester’s suspension. The disciplinary committee, however, will determine the outcome. The drafting committee comprised Profs Suvarn Kulkarni, Pratibha Sharma, Varsha Apte and Amitava De and four student representatives.
Clear instructions would be shared with invigilators before the weekend exams, a source added.