HPSC’s deja vu: 32 questions for civil services exam of 2022 repeated this year

An analysis on Wednesday showed that at least 32 of the 100 questions asked this time was a repeat from the July 2022 exam. Certain section of students have also raised this issue with the Haryana Public Service Commission, wherein they have highlighted that in at least four questions, only names were changed while the context stayed the same as that of last year.

HPSC chiarman Alok Verma did not respond to repeated calls for a comment on the issue.

A senior Haryana government officer, privy to the developments, however, stated, “It is a qualifying examination. Some times, a few questions tend to get repeated. Also, the issue has been brought to the notice of HPSC and it is learnt that from the next time, certain guidelines would be issued to examination question paper setters to ensure that repititions can be avoided.”

The officer added, “The setting of question papers is a fool-proof process. Even HPSC has no control over it. The paper-setter is an independent person who sends the question paper in a sealed cover. This sealed cover is only opened at the time of examination. Nobody can find out what questions are asked in the question paper. Sometimes, questions do get repeated. There was no malafide intention behind the same. The paper setter was different this year.
The commission usually sends the paper setter question papers of the past couple of years for reference.”
The two sets of question papers, this year and last’s, analysed by The Indian Express revealed that the questions in both the papers were exactly the same, without any changes. In certain cases, the question order was also kept the same.

The analysis found that question numbers 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 34 and 35 from the July 2022 exam, were repeated in the May 2023 test under the serial number 81, 82, 83, 26, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 40, 30 and 35.

In some of the above questions, even the names and context was not changed, making some students allege foul play.

“This is even worse than a leaked question paper. The candidates who had appeared in July 2022 had an edge over the others who were taking the exam for the first time this year. The passing marks is 32, and at least 33 questions have been copied word-for-word from the previous year’s question paper,” a student who took the exam said, on condition of anonymity.

For Haryana Civil Services recruitment, there are two sets in the preliminary examination. One is general knowledge and the other is Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT). AT least 33 per cent marks is required to clear CSAT. Once and if a candidate passes their CSAT, then their general knowledge examination sheet is checked. Both the papers together forms the basis of merit list for the candidates. If a candidate does not score a minimum 33 per cent marks in CSAT, then he/she automatically is rejected.

Congress’ Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from Rajasthan, Randeep Surjewala, too on Wednesday raised eyebrows and
lashed out at the ruling BJP-JJP government of Haryana demanding strict action against the HPSC for ‘such a gross anomaly’.

“HPSC should immediately be dissolved. It is not Haryana Public Service Commission. Rather it has become Haryana Postal Sales Counter. Earlier, its then deputy secretary Anil Nagar was caught with a huge amount of bribe money in 2021. Two days ago, this written examination (Haryana Civil Services Aptitude Test) was conducted. At least 32 questions in the question paper were ditto-same from the previous year’s paper. The commission has just shown its incapability by repeating over 30 per cent of the questions from previous year. This is nothing but a new technique of leaking the question paper by the BJP-JJP government. A thorough inquiry should be conducted in the matter by a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court,” Surjewala said.

He then added that Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar should answer what the sanctity of such a question paper was, in which 32 questions are already in public domain (means the questions that were already asked in the examination conducted last year)? “Doesn’t it amount to cheating with thousands of candidates who appeared for the examination on May 21, this year,” Surjewala said.