The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) 70th Combined Preliminary Exam has sparked widespread protests across Bihar, with thousands of students demanding the cancellation of the exam and a re-conducting of the test. The controversy has gained traction due to allegations of irregularities, poor question paper quality, and the alleged leak of model papers to coaching institutes. The protests have led to significant disruptions in Patna and other parts of the state, with both political and public figures joining the cause.
The controversy surrounding the BPSC 70th Combined Preliminary Exam started on December 6, 2024, and has escalated over the weeks. Here are the key developments that have shaped the situation:
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December 6, 2024: Students raised concerns about a practice known as "normalisation," accusing the BPSC of introducing it without explanation. BPSC dismissed these allegations as baseless and unfounded, claiming that there were no plans for normalisation.
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December 13, 2024: The exam, originally scheduled for December 6, was held for 2,031 vacancies, including 200 SDMs and 136 DSPs. However, it was marred by multiple issues:
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The question papers were delayed at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar (Bapu Examination Complex) in Patna, leading to further unrest.
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Allegations of a question paper leak surfaced, with students pointing out the similarities between the questions and model papers from coaching institutes.
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December 18, 2024: Protests intensified, with thousands of students gathering at various locations across Bihar, including the Gardanibagh protest site, demanding the full cancellation of the exam. The protests have continued since then.
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January 4, 2025: BPSC announced the re-conducting of the exam for 12,000 candidates from the Bapu Examination Complex in Patna, following the delay. However, this move has only fueled further anger among students, who argue that this partial re-exam would be unfair to those who faced similar issues at other centres.
Allegations Against the Exam: Poor Quality and Possible Leak
Several concerns have been raised by students regarding the quality of the question paper and the possibility of a leak:
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Similarities to Coaching Institute Papers: Students have pointed out that many of the questions in the exam closely resembled model papers provided by coaching institutes. While the BPSC has downplayed the significance of these allegations, students argue that the paper's simplicity and the repeated patterns suggest a systemic issue.
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Quality of the Question Paper: Candidates noted that the quality of the paper appeared to be substandard, with questions at the level of a police recruitment exam rather than a competitive one for administrative positions. This has led many to demand a re-examination of the entire process.
BPSC officials, including Secretary Satyaprakash Sharma, have denied these allegations, stating that the question paper was set by an independent panel of experts. The BPSC has also assured that any issues with the question paper would not affect the exam's fairness, citing that a higher cutoff would be implemented if the paper was indeed too easy.
The Role of Political Parties and Activists
The protests have garnered significant support from various political parties and activists:
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Opposition Support: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, CPI (M-L), and Jan Suraaj have all voiced their support for the protesting students. They have accused the state government of undermining the future of young people by allowing such irregularities to persist.
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Prashant Kishor's Involvement: Jan Suraaj founder and political strategist Prashant Kishor joined the protests at Gandhi Maidan on December 14, lending his support to the students' cause. He criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not addressing the youth's concerns and instead prioritizing a private visit to New Delhi. Kishor also called for an end to corruption in the state’s examination system.
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Calls for a Statewide Bandh: In response to the ongoing issues, students called for a statewide bandh on December 16, 2024. The shutdown caused major disruptions in public transportation, including trains and buses, although emergency services remained unaffected. The government did not issue an official order to close banks or government offices, and they continued operations as usual.
Police Action: Water Cannons and FIRs
The situation escalated further when students attempted to march towards the Chief Minister’s residence. The police responded with force, resulting in clashes between protesters and law enforcement. Some key developments include:
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Lathi-charge and Water Cannons: On December 14, when students tried to march towards the Chief Minister’s residence, police used water cannons and lathi-charged the protesters to disperse the crowd. The protesters were attempting to jump barricades when the scuffle broke out, leading to police action.
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FIR Against Prashant Kishor: An FIR was filed against Prashant Kishor and several others for organizing the protest without permission. The police charged Kishor and his associates, including Manoj Bharti and others, for instigating the unauthorized gathering at Gandhi Maidan.
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Detentions and Escalation: Police detained several protesters near JP Golumber when they blocked traffic. The use of force by the police has further intensified the unrest, with students accusing the government of silencing their legitimate demands through heavy-handed tactics.
The Government’s Response: Unresolved Demands
Despite the widespread protests and support from political figures, the Bihar government has maintained that it is sensitive to the concerns of the youth.
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Government Meetings: The Chief Secretary has agreed to meet with a five-member delegation from the BPSC aspirants, though the lack of organization among protesters has delayed this meeting.
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The Chief Minister's Absence: The government’s response has been criticized for its lack of urgency. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s absence from the state during a critical period has fueled discontent, with many accusing him of neglecting the aspirations of Bihar’s youth.
The central demands of the protesting students include:
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Complete Cancellation of the 70th BPSC Exam: Students have called for the entire exam to be scrapped and a fresh exam to be conducted, alleging irregularities and concerns over the quality of the question paper.
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Fair and Transparent Examination Process: There have been widespread allegations of corruption and poor quality in the examination process, which have led to a lack of faith in the fairness of the entire system.
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Re-conducting the Exam for All Affected Candidates: Students have argued that re-examining only candidates from one exam center would be unfair to those from other centers who faced similar issues.
The Future of the BPSC 70th Exam
The situation surrounding the BPSC 70th Combined Preliminary Exam is still unresolved. With protests continuing across Bihar and a demand for re-examination, it is clear that students are unwilling to back down. The growing support from opposition parties and activists has put additional pressure on the state government, but the authorities remain firm in their refusal to cancel the exam.
As the January 4 re-exam approaches for the 12,000 affected candidates, it remains to be seen how the government will address the concerns of students at other exam centres. Whether this issue will lead to systemic changes in the state's examination processes or remain a contentious point will depend on the actions of both the government and the protesting students.
With inputs from agencies
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