70th BPSC preliminary exam

The ongoing protests against the alleged question paper leak in the 70th Combined Preliminary Examination conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) have escalated into a major crisis. Hundreds of aspirants, gathered at Patna’s Gardanibagh since December 18, are demanding the cancellation of the exam and a fresh re-exam for all candidates. The agitation intensified after a candidate who had appeared for the preliminary examination died by suicide on Tuesday night. The tragic incident added fuel to the already growing unrest among aspirants, some of whom have been on a hunger strike since December 20. Three hunger strikers have been hospitalized due to deteriorating health. Chaos erupted on Wednesday night when police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse students marching toward the BPSC office in Patna. Reports indicate that around 50 protesters sustained serious injuries, including women who were allegedly hit in the stomach. An FIR has been registered against individuals accused of entering restricted areas and inciting unrest. Ashutosh Kishor, one of the protesting aspirants, alleged police brutality and claimed that educators supporting the protest, including Rohit Sir, were detained by authorities. The unrest has drawn support from political leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of Opposition in Bihar, and Independent MP Pappu Yadav. Yadav criticized the state government on X, calling its handling of the issue “mentally ill governance.” Despite BPSC’s dismissal of the paper leak allegations as mere rumors, the Commission has ordered a re-exam for students who appeared at Patna’s Bapu Nagar center. However, aspirants are unwavering in their demand for a complete cancellation and re-examination of the preliminary test, citing systemic flaws and lack of accountability in the recruitment process. The protests reflect growing discontent over employment opportunities and trust in institutional processes, raising questions about governance and accountability in Bihar. Source: The Print Photo Credit: The Print