The Board had said on Saturday that examination centres would receive encrypted copies of question papers that they would need to download and print, despite limited resources and manpower.
CBSE's exams for Class X and XII were delayed by 30 minutes at several centres across Delhi, amid confusion over the use of a new "URL-based" question paper delivery system. Centre heads were told to go back to the existing system at the last minute.
The new system was to start following last week's leaks of Class XII economics questions that has forced 5 lakh students to resit their exam on April 25. The paper was held on March 26. Police are also probing leaks of the Board's Class X maths test that 17 lakh students took on March 28. This exam, if needed, will be held in July in Delhi and Haryana were the leaks were apparently restricted.
The Board had said on Saturday that examination centres would receive encrypted copies of question papers that they would need to download and print, despite limited resources and manpower.
Schools were to receive email links to question papers at 7:30 am, log in, using passwords sent for the purpose, and then print over 2,000 sheets until 10:15 am under surveillance.
However, on Monday, when officials reported at examination centres at 7 am, they were told that the old system was to be followed. "We kept waiting for email links from the Board till 9:30 am, and then, we were told that the present system of receiving question papers from a bank would be followed. We received question papers at 10:15 am from the bank as CBSE officials gave the same to them late. Papers were distributed at 10.45 am, 30 minutes late," said a principal at a private school in North Delhi. Students, however, were given extra time to complete their test.
Some centres however claimed to have received an intimation that the old system will be used.
"We received information on Sunday night. So, we did not wait for email links. However, papers reached 15 minutes late, causing 30 minutes of delay," said the principal of a government school in south Delhi. Class X students had Sanskrit/Urdu-B paper/French paper and Class XII students had Hindi core paper on Monday.
Meanwhile, CBSE said that exams at several centres delayed due to Monday's "Bharat bandh". "In few instances at some centres in the country, the exam was delayed by a few minutes to half an hour due to the bandh.
However, the students were facilitated to reach the exam centres and also given additional time to complete the exam without any inconvenience or anxiety, as per standard procedures," the board said in a statement.
Officials at the Baord maintained that the "new system" was in place, but refused details. However, sources said that question papers were printed on Monday morning, to avoid any chance of leaks. CBSE had also deployed officials at each centres to ensure safe and secure conduct of examinations.
Barring Punjab region, where exam was postponed due to the band, 6.2 lakh Class X and XII students appeared for Monday's examinations.
On Sunday, police arrested two teachers of a private school and a coaching centre tutor from Delhi for leaking the economics questions.
CBSE also suspended, KS Rana, in-charge of the Delhi centre from where questions were leaked, following the directions of Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar. An inquiry has been initiated.
So far, police have questioned 70 people, including students, parents and teachers, and seized 50 mobile phones for forensic tests to crack the case that has sparked protests and political slugfest.
Police have identified six WhatsApp groups with 50-60 members each suspected to be involved in the scandal, the biggest to have hit India's top education body, also putting pressure on the Centre to defend itself over digital security.
Cops are tracking the money trail and their links, possibly in Jharkhand where police have arrested three persons and detained nine minors.
CBSE and police knew about potential leaks but did not do enough, reports have suggested.
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