Viral ‘floating’ exam papers video in Bihar: rain, not negligence, say officials

3 min readUpdated: Jul 2, 2026 03:02 PM IST

Explaining the sequence of events, the department said question papers and answer booklets for the July 2026 quarterly examinations had reached the district by June 27. (Photo/X@WithLoveBihar)

After a viral video purportedly showed bundles of examination papers floating in Bihar’s Buxar district, the district education department claimed the footage was recorded while the papers were being distributed amid sudden rainfall. It dismissed social media claims of negligence, saying the quarterly examinations were conducted as scheduled.

The video showed bundles of exam papers inside a waterlogged premises, with people trying to remove them. Several social media posts claimed the footage showed Class 9, 10 and 12 question papers floating in water in Buxar.

The incident came amid reports of question paper leaks in various examinations, fuelling concerns over negligence.

While acknowledging that the bundles seen in the video were question papers and answer sheets being distributed to schools, the district education department on Thursday said reports by several news channels, portals and social media platforms linking the visuals to negligence in the district’s education system were “completely baseless and misleading”.

“The claim that sealed bundles of quarterly examination question papers and answer sheets for Classes 9, 10 and 12 were found floating in rainwater is factually incorrect,” an officer said. The department added that the examination material remained “completely safe” and that the examinations were conducted smoothly according to schedule.

Explaining the sequence of events, the department said question papers and answer booklets for the July 2026 quarterly examinations had reached the district by June 27.

“Because M.P. High School in Buxar had been designated as a centre for the police constable recruitment examination on June 28, the examination material was shifted and stored securely in the building of Rajkiya Buniyadi Vidyalaya, Buxar, as a precautionary measure,” the official said, adding that schools across the district began collecting question papers and answer sheets on June 30.

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“During the distribution process, packets meant for different schools were being sorted and loaded into vehicles for transportation when heavy rain began unexpectedly.”

The department said the visuals were recorded during this distribution process after the rain began, and alleged they were circulated by “anti-social elements” to defame the department and spread false rumours by portraying negligence.

Officials maintained that despite the sudden rainfall during distribution, all packets, including the question papers and answer sheets, were “safely transported” to the respective schools.

“The claims published by various news channels, news portals and circulated on social media are factually incorrect and completely baseless,” the department said. It also asserted there had been “no negligence or violation of instructions” in the conduct of the examinations and that the process proceeded “without disruption”.

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Himanshu Harsh is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, currently leading on-the-ground coverage in Bihar. With a reporting career rooted in the complexities of the National Capital Region (NCR), Himanshu specializes in the critical intersection of law, crime, and civic governance.

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