New Delhi: The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) is conducting re-examination at 22 centres in Patna today following allegations of malpractice during the preliminary test held on December 13, 2024. The re-exam was necessitated after alleged irregularities at the Bapu Examination Centre in Patna.
The re-exam has garnered mixed responses from candidates. While some expressed dissatisfaction, saying the process was merely a formality and that results might already have been decided, others supported the re-exam. Speaking to Aaj Tak, some candidates questioned why the re-exam was limited to select centres and not conducted for all candidates. Others stated that such disruptions should be avoided in future.
Protesters demand cancellation of prelims
The controversy stem from the December 13 examination, when accusations of a question paper leak surfaced. The BPSC then decided to conduct a re-exam for 12,000 candidates at Patna centres.
Since December 18, hundreds of aspirants have been protesting in Patna, demanding the cancellation of the prelims and a fresh examination. Protesters have alleged widespread mismanagement, including non-functional CCTV cameras and jammers as-well-as delays in question paper distribution at several centres.
Several parties have announced statewide demonstrations in solidarity with the protesters. Prashant Kishor has joined the protesters and announced a fast unto death to press their demands. The founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, Kishor has also alleged corruption in government job recruitment, claiming that “thousands of crores of rupees” have been exchanged for posts filled through the BPSC examination. He has demanded the cancellation of the exam, the conduct of a fresh one, and action against corrupt officials.
Prashant Kishor criticises Nitish Kumar
“Exam (re-exam of 70th BPSC prelims) is being held for students, but those who are protesting are 3.5 lakhs. The issue is there are bigger corruption charges – that more than half of the seats are sold out. It doesn’t matter when you appear in the examination – you won’t get the seat. The post of DSP is being sold out at Rs 1.5 cr; people are openly doing that – the govt is not commenting on it,” he said while talking to news agency ANI.
Kishor criticised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, questioning his silence over the protests. He accused Kumar of ignoring the plight of candidates braving cold weather, police lathi charges, and water cannons. “The future of our young students should be the top priority. We can play the game of politics later,” Kishor said.
