Nearly 5,000 students in Assam are under the scanner after the state school education board found they secured admission to Class 11 using Class 10 pass certificates that appear to be fake. The Assam Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is now probing how the documents were issued, and the students who used them could lose their seats.
The Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB), Division-II, says 4,934 students gained admission to Class 11 over two academic sessions using certificates issued in the name of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), even though the institutions that issued them were never affiliated with the council.
Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu has said students found to have secured admission using forged certificates will lose their seats. Most of the suspected cases have been reported from Nagaon district, he said.
How the racket came to light
The board flagged the problem in a communication dated September 5 to the Commissioner and Secretary of the state Department of School Education. After verifying the list of affiliated institutions provided by CISCE, the board found that only 28 schools across Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are actually affiliated with the council.
Against that, 94 institutions were found to have issued Class 10 pass certificates in the name of CISCE despite having no affiliation. The board has classified those certificates as fake and forged, and has held both the institutions that issued them and the students who submitted them responsible.
A district-wise list of the institutions where admissions were secured using the suspected certificates has been enclosed with the communication for further action. The CID is now investigating the racket, including who printed and sold the documents and how the network operated.
The numbers behind the case
The scale of the case is what has made it one of the biggest education frauds reported in the state in recent years:
- 4,934 students in total secured Class 11 admission using the suspected certificates across two academic sessions.
- 2,083 students were admitted in the 2025-26 academic session.
- 2,851 students were admitted in the ongoing 2026-27 academic session.
- 94 institutions allegedly issued the certificates without CISCE affiliation.
- 28 schools in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are genuinely affiliated with CISCE.
- 1,288 suspected admissions have been reported from Nagaon district alone, the highest in the state.
Reports say the alleged operators later began issuing certificates in the name of the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) after the CISCE documents were flagged, a claim that is part of the ongoing investigation.
What happens to the students now
As an immediate step, the board has blocked the registration of students admitted to Class 11 during the current 2026-27 academic session on the basis of the suspected certificates. It has also recommended that the institutions concerned be directed to discontinue the studies of students admitted in both academic sessions using these documents.
For the affected students, the consequences could be severe. Those whose certificates are confirmed as forged face cancellation of admission, which would mean losing a full academic year.
The Hojai district committee of the All Assam Minorities Students Union (AAMSU) has demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the racket, saying more than 600 students in Hojai district alone obtained CISCE-branded certificates and secured admission to various schools this academic session. The organisation has also alleged that no FIR had been registered in Hojai district so far despite the board directing legal proceedings, and has sought strict action against everyone involved in preparing, selling and distributing the fake documents.
What students and parents should check
The case is a reminder to verify a school’s affiliation before taking admission or accepting a certificate at face value. Parents and students can check whether an institution is genuinely affiliated with CISCE through the council’s official list of affiliated schools, and cross-check Class 10 certificates with the issuing board before using them for admission.
Students who suspect their certificate may be affected should contact their school and the board immediately, and keep copies of every document submitted at the time of admission. With the CID investigation under way, more details on the institutions involved and the action against them are expected in the coming days.
FAQs
How many students are affected by the Assam fake certificate case?
A total of 4,934 students are under the scanner, including 2,083 admitted to Class 11 in 2025-26 and 2,851 admitted in 2026-27.
Which board flagged the fake certificates?
The Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB), Division-II, flagged the certificates after verifying CISCE’s list of affiliated institutions.
Will the admissions of the affected students be cancelled?
Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu has said students found to have used forged certificates will lose their seats. The board has already blocked registration of the 2026-27 admissions made on the basis of the suspected documents.
How many institutions are accused of issuing the certificates?
The board has identified 94 institutions that allegedly issued Class 10 certificates in the name of CISCE without affiliation. Only 28 schools in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are genuinely affiliated with the council.
Who is investigating the racket?
The Assam Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is probing the case. A students organisation in Hojai has also demanded a Special Investigation Team probe.
The investigation is ongoing, and this article will be updated as the board and the police release more details.
