Haridwar Home Guard recruitment: 20 applications cancelled over suspected AI-made certificates
Uttarakhand Home Guard officials say 20 candidates submitted suspicious Class 10 and 12 certificates, allegedly created with computers and AI, to claim extra marks in a recruitment drive for 227 posts.
Uttarakhand Home Guard authorities have cancelled the applications of 20 candidates in a Haridwar district recruitment drive after their educational certificates were found suspicious during document verification, ETV Bharat and Haldwani Live reported on 23 October.
The recruitment, which began in July 2026, is for 227 Home Guard posts in Haridwar district and drew about 11,000 applicants. Educational qualifications earn additional marks in the selection process.
What officials found
According to the reports, a departmental check found more than 20 doubtful certificates, including high school and intermediate documents. The documents were allegedly produced using computer tools and artificial intelligence to claim the extra marks.
Gautam Kumar, Divisional Commandant of the Uttarakhand Home Guard, confirmed that the certificates of 20 candidates were found suspicious. He said the matter is being investigated thoroughly. Further action against the candidates will depend on the findings, the reports said. No candidates have been named.
The reports did not say whether a police complaint has been filed. Submitting forged documents in a government recruitment process can attract criminal charges for cheating and forgery, in addition to disqualification. Any such charges would remain allegations until decided by a court.
A growing concern
The case adds to concerns that easily available editing and generative tools can produce convincing copies of marksheets and certificates. Such documents may look genuine on screen or on paper, but they will not match the records held by the issuing board.
ETV Bharat linked the case to recent concerns in Uttarakhand over forged quota certificates used in MBBS admissions, which led to cancelled seats and police cases earlier this autumn.
How recruiters can check
Recruiting bodies can verify school results through the issuing board's official verification service or through DigiLocker, where many boards publish marksheets directly. Comparing roll numbers, year of passing and marks with the board's own records, rather than accepting uploaded scans, is the most reliable way to catch altered or generated documents.
This News Desk report summarises information published by the sources above, written in our own words. Persons named in criminal matters are accused, not convicted, unless a court has ruled otherwise. To report an error, use our contact page.
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