MUMBAI, Oct. 10 -- The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has reverted to its 2015 rule-book on academic malpractices, to put on course the postponed mid-semester exam which was supposed to be held on September 19 and 20, following a senate meeting on Friday. The earlier schedule was set aside after a 20-year-old BTech student died by suicide on campus on September 18. The student was purportedly driven to take the extreme step after being caught using a smartphone and ChatGPT during an exam, following which he was asked to leave the hall. Soon after, the institute considered putting in force the stringent July 2026 rule -- to suspend a student for a semester if caught copying. On Friday, the senate put the decision on hold for the October 10 and 11 examination, following which the institute shared a link to the 2015 guidelines with students in an email, including instructions for the examinations. According to the 2015 rule, an invigilator who catches a student copying can take away the written material and record the incident using photography, but will let the student complete the paper in a fresh answer booklet. A report would then be sent to the head of the department, and the Departmental Academic Disciplinary Action Committee (DA-DAC). An email seen by HT directs IIT-B students and TAs to follow strict examination procedures. Students must arrive 30 minutes before the paper starts and occupy allotted seats at least 10 minutes prior. Entry closes 30 minutes after the exam begins. Students must carry original ID cards, essential stationery, and optional water bottles. Bags, books, notes, and electronic devices, including mobile phones, smartwatches, laptops, and earphones are prohibited inside examination buildings, except authorised material for open-book tests. Physical checks for unauthorised material may be conducted, and possessing answer sheets outside the hall is considered malpractice. The email outlines punishment guidelines for academic dishonesty under 2015 rules. Protesting students at the Justice Corner issued a statement rejecting the update: "Same rule, new spin, the institute does not need new rules to answer for the September 18 incident. It needs to answer whether it followed the old ones. We demand an independent inquiry." Meanwhile, the senate discussed examination malpractice policies following a student's death. An eight-member committee reviewing punishment procedures and suspected malpractice handling is expected to submit its final report soon....