Cyber attack on server delays Mumbai university’s IDOL course exams

By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, October 7:
Due to technical glitches following Cyber attack on its server of online examinations, the Mumbai University postponed examinations of third year B.Com and B.A. conducted by the  Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL), scheduled to be held on 6  and 7 October.

While the exams to be held on 7 October, have been rescheduled to the second week of October, the rescheduled time table of the  exams postponed on October 6, is yet to be announced.

Similarly the examinations of Third year B.Sc (Computer Science), Third year B.Sc (IT semester VI) and backlog examinations of first and second year B.A. and B.Com, MCA (semester I and II) scheduled to be held on 7 th October were also postponed.

There has been resentment among students ever since the IDOL examination began on 3^rd October since they were unable to get link, log in ID, password etc. Eventually several students ended up missing the exam due to technical glitches. Nearly 9,000 students of IDOL had their third-year Bachelor of Commerce and Arts exams scheduled, however, over 90% could not access the exam link on Tuesday. When the examinations were cancelled without notice, Many students gathered at the university’s Kalina campus in North West Mumbai and registered their protests on Tuesday evening,

Later IDOL released a statement postponing the day’s exam. It added that due to the trouble with the examination server, they have postponed the exams scheduled to take place on Wednesday as well.

“We are in touch with the software company and they are still trying to find out the exact reason behind this error. We are sure the remaining papers will be conducted smoothly,”  MU’s Deputy Registrar (public relations) Vinod Malale said. MU this year has opted for a Singapore-based software company called “LittleMORE Innovation Labs” to conduct exams online.

In the meanwhile, activists of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) objected to the continued disruptions and demanded that all exams be postponed till the technical glitches were solved. The MU should also consider terminating services of the software company for creating confusion and anxiety among the student fraternity, an MNS statement said.