Students in India banned from wearing shoes and socks to ‘stop exam cheating’

Students in India are to be banned from wearing shoes and socks to stop them from cheating in exams.

Authorities in the eastern Indian state of Bihar have asked students not to wear anything on their feet where they could potentially conceal notes during an exam. Officials told the BBC that the state is "notorious" for cheating students. The rules are set to be implemented tomorrow, February 21, on the day that most Indian students will be taking their final exams. Authorities said that if any students attempt to wear shoes or socks into the exam hall, they will be forced to wait outside. In 2016, the state announced fines and potential jail time to try and crack down on the high numbers of cheating students. After this, Bihar's pass rate fell from 70 percent to just under 50 percent. It is thought that the temptation to cheat is due to the poor teaching quality in Indian schools and the pressures to pass exams to achieve a financially successful career. In 2013, over 1,600 Bihar students were expelled for cheating in school exams. A further 100 parents were also found to have helped their child to cheat.