PRAYAGRAJ, Nov. 5 -- UP governor and chancellor of state universities, Anandiben Patel, on Wednesday called for strict accountability of teachers in the examination evaluation process, suggesting financial penalties, including withholding a month's salary, for those found guilty of errors in checking answer sheets. Addressing the one-day Purvanchal Startup Samvad 2026, jointly organised by Prof Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya) University, Prayagraj, and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, she asked vice-chancellors to ensure transparency in examinations and improve the academic environment, particularly in newly established universities. "Why should students have to appear for back-paper examinations? Evaluate the papers they write and then show them their answer sheets. Make the evaluated copies available to students and their parents so that they can see what has been written and how it has been assessed," she said. The governor said teachers must be held accountable for errors in evaluation. "If the mistake is on the teacher's part, impose a financial penalty. A month's salary should be withheld. Only then will they take the work seriously," she said, stressing the need for careful assessment of answer sheets. Pointing out that many students work hard and even take up daily-wage jobs to pursue higher education, Patel said careless evaluation could adversely affect their academic future. Teachers must recognise the efforts and aspirations of such students and ensure that their answer sheets are assessed fairly, she added. Expressing concern over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in setting question papers, the governor asked universities to prepare papers independently and ensure that they adequately tested students' understanding and thinking abilities. Prof Akhilesh Kumar Singh, vice-chancellor of Prof Rajendra Singh University, welcomed the guests. The governor's special duty officer (OSD), Sudhir M Bobde and Dr Abhay Jere, former vice-chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi, also spoke on the occasion....