Why Are BPSC Aspirants Protesting? Everything You Need To Know About The Controversy – News18

Last Updated:January 02, 2025, 17:16 IST

BPSC Exam Protest: Aspirants protest over irregularities exam, demanding re-examination after alleged paper leak and chaos at exam centers.

 BPSC 70th CCE Exam Controversy: Aspirants continue to protest against the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) over the alleged irregularities in the 70th BPSC Combined Competitive Examination (CCE). Aspirants are demanding the scrapping of the examination which was held across the state on December 13, 2024, and a re-examination citing paper leak and other irregularities that allegedly occurred at various examination centres.

70th BPSC Exam Row Timeline

On December 13, 2024, chaos erupted at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar exam centre in Patna after there was an alleged delay of nearly 45 minutes in the distribution of exam papers. Surfaced CCTV clips showed a group of people tearing question papers in the exam room and snatching the exam sheets from other candidates who were taking the test.

Hours after the chaos unfolded at the BPSC exam centre in Patna, aspirants sat on protest against the BPSC demanding the cancellation of the exam and urging for re-examination. Several students announced a hunger strike.

December 16, 2024: Educator and YouTuber Faizal Khan aka Khan Sir expressed his concerns over the paper leaks and controversies, including the uncertainty around the normalisation process, surrounding the 70th BPSC examination. Speaking to ANI Khan said that such issues create unnecessary anxiety among students preparing for examinations and cause “mental trauma” to the students as well as the teachers.

December 17, 2024: BPSC Chairman Ravi Manubhai Parmar announced the re-examination for the candidates who were allotted Bapu Pariksha Parisar exam centre in Patna for the exam on December 13, 2024.

December 18, 2024: Aspirants continued to protest and demonstrate against the BPSC in Patna demanding a re-examination of the 70th BPSC examination.

December 19, 2024: A meeting of the full BPSC bench was held on December 19, 2024, to discuss the re-examination of the cancelled 70th Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination, which was originally supposed to take place on December 13, 2024, at the Bapu Examination Complex in Patna. The Commission decided to hold the re-examination on January 4, 2025 (Saturday) at the Bapu Examination Complex.

December 21, 2024: BPSC aspirants met Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal at his residence to discuss the irregularities that occurred during the 70th BPSC exam. After meeting the aspirants, Jaiswal said to the media that he heard the demands of the students and advised them to not get into any politics. he further underlined that the BPSC is an independent body and they need to understand the demands of the students.

December 24, 2024: Aspirants continued their indefinite hunger strike demanding a re-examination of the 70th BPSC exam. Independent MP Pappu Yadav from Purnia joined the protest and urged the opposition MPs and MLAs to support the student’s cause.

December 25, 2024: Khan Sir, visited the students sitting on the indefinite hunger strike. He urged the BPSC to consider the plight of the aspirants stating that 4-5 students are in critical condition and have been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

December 26, 2024: Bihar Police resorted to a lathi charge after the aspirants intensified their protest. However, the police department issued a clarification, claiming that they used “mild force” and denied any injuries to the protesting aspirants.

December 27, 2024: The BPSC’s Examination Controller, Rajesh Kumar Singh announced that the 70th BPSC Prelims Exam will not be cancelled under any circumstances. He also confirmed that the main exam will be held in April.

December 29, 2024: Bihar police lathi-charged and used water cannon to disperse the protesting BPSC aspirants in Gandhi Maidan, Patna.

December 30, 2024: Aspirants called for a statewide bandh (shutdown).

January 1, 2025: Aspirants continued their protest and indefinite hunger strike amid bone-chilling winter on the first day of January demanding re-examination for the BPSC prelims.

From Paswan To Lalu Yadav To Kejriwal: Politicians On BPSC Protest

Former Bihar CM and RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav termed the lathi-charge on protesting students “wrong” and stated that the police should not have resorted to such act. RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha called the lathi-charge on students as an “unfortunate” incident and said that the government should consider the demands of the students and stop such activities

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi slammed the Bihar government and alleged that the NDA-led government resorted to a ‘lathi-charge’ on BPSC aspirants to “hide its failures.” The Congress MP called the action taken against the protesting aspirants “extremely shameful.”

Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also condemned the lathi charge on student protesters and accused BJP governments of using force to suppress dissent. On social media platform X, Kejriwal said “BJP governments want to suppress every voice of protest with the help of sticks. Lathicharge on peacefully protesting students is a direct attack against democracy.”

Union minister Chirag Paswan came in support of students and aspirants protesting over the alleged BPSC question paper leak and appealed to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to intervene and resolve the impasse with the students. Condemning the lathi charge and use of water canons on the students, Paswan demanded strict action against the involved in the act. He said that he has never been a supporter of brutal action against the students.