New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) Over 12 lakh students across the country were finally able to appear for the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) Sunday, after a question paper leak delayed the exam by three hours, an official said.

 
 The paper is conducted in two halves over the day. While the first paper is for bachelor of engineering (B.E.) aspirants, the second paper is for students wanting to pursue a bachelor of architecture (B.Arch) course. 
 
 As per the original schedule, the first paper was to begin at 9.30 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m.
 
 The Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE), the nodal agency for conducting the exam, postponed the first part to 12.30 p.m. and the second part to 4.00 p.m.
 
 Following the delay, the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) entrance exam, that was also scheduled for Sunday at 2.30 p.m., was shifted to 4.30 p.m.
 
 "We have notified the centres all over the country. Students who want to appear for the AFMC exam today, can appear for the B. Arch exam later on May 8,” Vineet Joshi, chairman and central vigilance officer of CBSE, told reporters here.
 
 The May 8 exam will be held at the same centre and the same admit card will be valid, he added.
 
 "We have notified the centres all over the country. If they have the capacity to accommodate students, they can conduct both exams today. If not, they can choose to hold the AIEEE exam on May 8 at 9.30 a.m.,” Joshi said.
 
 The AIEEE entrance exam was delayed after the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force informed the CBSE about a question paper leak in the state, he said.
 
 Over 12 lakh students across the country are appearing for around 26,816 engineering and architecture seats at different colleges under the AIEEE.