3 years in jail for leaking CAT exam details

MUMBAI: Just in case you’re an MBA aspirant who’s planning to disclose any details of the CAT exam — which will be conducted over a period of 10 

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days starting Saturday — here’s a word of caution. The IIMs have put out a disclaimer on their website warning that such action could result in imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of Rs 2 lakh as it violates a number of laws including the Copyright Act.

While this is common knowledge and was applicable for the earlier CAT exams too, this is possibly the first time that the rule has been put out in writing. Candidates appearing for CAT will have to consent to a Non-Disclosure Agreement at the time of the test.

According to the disclaimer, ‘‘Disclosing, publishing, reproducing, transmitting, storing, or facilitating transmission and storage of the contents of the CAT or any information therein in whole or part thereof in any form or by any means, verbal or written, electronically or mechanically for any purpose, shall be in violation of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 and/or the Copyright Act, 1957 and/or the Information Technology Act.’’

While coaching classes have routinely put out details of the CAT paper online and have analysed the paper in detail on their websites, this time round, many say they are doing a rethink.

‘‘We’ve consulted our lawyers over the matter, and they say we could invite a penalty if we disclose any details about the paper,’’ said a coaching class head.