The 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) prelims exam has become the center of heated debates following allegations of a paper leak. Candidates complained about mismanagement and improprieties at the test sites. Screen captures of pictures and videos of students showing their protest outside Patna’s Bapu Sabhagar examination center show students expressing their displeasure about what they claim were “breaches.” Some students claimed that question papers were absent or that the seals on booklets were broken. The problem has brought renewed anxieties about the (systemic) weaknesses in the exam system.
There have been strong responses to the BPSC paper leak reports involving aspirants and their teachers. Although students called for responsibility, BPSC officials disputed any fault. They downplayed allegations as unfounded and restated their pledge to administer the test fairly. Chairman Parmar Ravi Manubhai stated the board examination will still be taken on 13 December, with more or less five lakh students and almost 945 centers planned. Despite these assurances, skepticism remains.
Not the first time for BPSC paper leak
This is not the first time BPSC has been defended against accusations of leaks. Protests were fueled by comparisons to the 67th BPSC exam, which was canceled in 2022 over similar accusations. Critiques that there have been repeated scandals such as the BPSC (Bihar Public Service Commission) paper leak are that they damage the integrity of competitive examinations in Bihar. Calls for change have become more insistent, calling for reform of systems and greater levels of transparency.
Another incident that is related to the controversy is the viral video of Patna District Magistrate giving a slap to a protester. The applicants reproached the authorities for silencing their voices instead of their complaints. Opposition figures took advantage of the opportunity and attacked the government, accusing it of arrogance and inability to preserve public confidence.
The BPSC paper leak issue has created a cloud over the examination system of the state. Given continued protests and social media magnification of the outrage, the priority is maintaining accountability. To most people, it has arrived at the point where it is the time for Bihar’s examination board to first and foremost concentrate on giving a degree of fairness to its hopefuls and to start again the beleaguered faith of the young hopefuls in it.
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