WhatsApp Ban alert: Unable to stop mass cheating, Rajasthan plans to target chat app

Rajasthan government is reportedly looking to impose a curb on the social messaging app WhatsApp. However, the ban would be for a limited duration. Unable to stop mass copying in exams by students using the WhatsApp, the Rajasthan government has now planned to ban WhatsApp during the entrance examinations, according to a report by DNA. On this matter, the talks between the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) and Rajasthan Police are in an advanced stage. 

Earlier in March this year, Rajasthan Police had to cancel Constable Entrance Examination due to high-tech cheating incidents. The police had also arrested 11 members of a cheating gang after the incident. In 2015, Rajasthan University's exam paper was leaked on WhatsApp. 

The DoIT and Rajasthan police feel that messaging app like Whatsapp is being used by cheating gangs to provide answers to the candidates. These gangs take an amount from the candidate before the exam on the pretext of providing answers and cheating materials. 

Though the police are not in favour of a complete ban on the internet as it affects other services including business, healthcare, insurance and e-mitra facilities. The authorities are mulling to block WhatsApp during the entrance exams.
 
The selective restriction may help the authorities to reduce the number of mass-copying incidents. The home ministry has already said that SMS and instant messaging sites can be blocked if required. 

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However, imposing curb on WhatsApp or other messaging services is being seen as the government's inability to conduct fair entrance examinations. 

In the recent past, WhatsApp fake messages and rumours have also triggered riots and lynching incidents across the country.