Bihar PSC Exam: CCTV Shows Unruly Candidates Snatching Question Papers From Students Appearing For Test

Bihar PSC Exam: Chaos erupted at the BPSC preliminary examination in Patna when alleged unruly candidates snatched and tore the question papers of others.

Bihar PSC Exam: CCTV footage from the Bapu examination centre in Patna’s Kumhrar captured the chaos during the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) preliminary examination on Friday, where question papers were snatched and torn by purported candidates as the exam authorities allege conspiracy.  

The footage revealed miscreants rushing into a room where officials were the test was being held peacefully. Officials had assured candidates that the lost time a delay of over 40 to 45 minutes would be compensated. However, tensions escalated, leading to the crowd raiding question paper boxes. Some tore the papers, while others distributed them to people gathered outside, NDTV reported.  

Rumours of a question paper leak on social media had sparked unrest, with approximately 300-400 aspirants boycotting the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 at the centre. The BPSC, however, denied any leak, stating the exams were conducted fairly across 911 of the 912 centres.  

BPSC Chairman Parmar Ravi Manubhai told PTI, “Snatching question papers from invigilators and showing those to outsiders tantamount to looting public property. Police action will be initiated against these persons who seem to have acted as a part of a conspiracy. There has been no leak of the question paper at all. The examination will not be cancelled, which a very few people with vested interest are demanding.”  

Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh reached the site to control the situation. Addressing the slapping of a protestor captured on camera, he clarified, “It was never my intention to slap or hurt any aspirant. There was a slight delay in the distribution of question booklets in one or two examination halls, which escalated the situation.”  

He explained that the delay stemmed from a shortage of question papers, with only 192 sets available instead of the required 272. The issue led to allegations of a leak and a boycott by some candidates.  

An FIR has been registered to identify those responsible for disrupting the examination. Bihar Police’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU) Deputy Inspector General Manavjit Singh Dhillon stated, “We are ascertaining details and keeping a close watch on the developments.”  

The district administration will submit a report to the BPSC, which has assured stringent action against those involved in what it termed a “conspiracy.” The examination, held to recruit candidates for Group A and B posts, saw participation from nearly five lakh candidates across Bihar.  

Bihar PSC Exam: Tejashwi Yadav Alleges 'State-Sponsored' Question Paper Leaks As He Targets CM Nitish Kumar

Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of maintaining silence over alleged irregularities in a PSC examination. He claimed that recent question paper leaks in competitive tests were state-sponsored. In a video statement late on Friday, Yadav also accused Kumar of failing to communicate with job aspirants who staged protests over the alleged paper leak in the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024, conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission.

The former Bihar deputy chief minister stressed, "I must say that these question paper leaks are state-sponsored. Why did the CM and two deputy CMs maintain silence over the issue? Those (aspirants) who protested against irregularities in the exam were baton-charged, slapped by the Patna DM and also sent to jail. It seems that bureaucrats are running the government in the state…This is not the government of the people."

Education Loan Information: