Giriraj Singh’s X post becomes Bihar govt recruitment exam question, BPSC takes action amid row

The correct answer was Giriraj Singh.

‘Reflects poorly on BPSC’

The question drew criticism from Opposition parties and even from within the ruling alliance. JD(U) leader and former minister Maheshwar Hazari flagged the question on social media on June 17.

RJD national spokesperson Subodh Kumar Mehta and Congress leader Asit Nath Tiwari also objected to the inclusion of the question. “There has to be a mechanism to filter out such questions,” Mehta said. Tiwari said, “Such questions reflect poorly on the state service commission.”

The BJP declined to comment, saying the party had no role in matters relating to examination papers.

‘Utmost secrecy’

BPSC secretary Satya Prakash Sharma told The Indian Express, “We maintain utmost secrecy regarding the preparation and publication of question papers to avoid any possibility of a paper leak. We have identified the question setter concerned and barred him from setting questions for us in the future. His honorarium has also been withheld.”

Asked whether the Commission had a moderation mechanism in place, Sharma said, “While some state public service commissions have a formal moderation system, we do not. However, there is a system of confidential moderation, but the moderator could not spot this.”

He added, “While we will continue to maintain the secrecy of our examination papers, we will ensure that empanelled question setters refrain from including such questions. Confidential moderators will have a more important role in filtering out controversial questions.”

According to the Commission, 1,113 candidates appeared for the examination against nine vacancies. A total of 3,024 candidates had applied.