In Rajasthan, MA final-year question paper asks students to ‘discuss BJP ideology’

Dr Gopal Sharan Gupta, a research assistant at the Centre for Rajasthan Studies who was the invigilator for the examination, said that “two students opposed the particular question”.

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“One student objected that the paper has been prepared by someone with a particular political leaning, and that it was ideologically biased,” Gupta said.

Gupta, however, claimed that, “the present political party is included in the course work”.

“I told students that if they have any objection, they may raise it with the relevant authorities,” he said.

Krishna Gopal Sharma, director of the Centre for Rajasthan Studies, did not respond to calls or messages. The question was asked in part three of the question paper. It was one of two questions — from unit one of the syllabus — which could be answered for 20 marks.

Congress spokesperson Archana Sharma said “the BJP government has been trying to impress its ideology on students”.

“They have already changed the syllabus to suit their icons and now this question proves that are bent on brainwashing students. At the university, too, the teachers want to please their masters,” she said.

Indian Youth Congress (IYC) spokesperson Sadiq Chauhan said that they will protest against the question paper.

“The IYC opposes such divisive attempts. There should be no politicisation at places of education, but time and again, BJP has targeted educational institutes to push its ideology. We will protest against this question paper,” Chauhan said.

University vice-chancellor J P Singhal told The Indian Express, “I am not aware of any such question paper but if a student has an objection, they can approach the grievance committee.”