In Patna, a large group of aspirants for the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exams are protesting against proposed changes to the 70th BPSC Preliminary Examination format. The protest, which escalated on Friday, resulted in a police lathi-charge to disperse the demonstrators. Aspirants are demanding the withdrawal of the proposed normalization process and a return to the “one shift, one paper” format for the upcoming exam scheduled on December 13.
BPSC Aspirants Protest at Bailey Road
On Friday, around noon, protestors gathered near the BPSC office on Bailey Road in protest of the new exam rules. The problem is about the normalization process, adjusting scores from multiple shifts using a statistical formula. Aspirants argue that it will disadvantage candidates who take the exam under tougher conditions and make the whole process unfair.
The aspirants have always shown a demand for “one shift, one paper.” The protest stopped traffic in the area because protesters sat on the road and refused to budge despite the repeated requests from the police.
Police Action and Denial of Injuries
SSP of Police, Rajeev Mishra said that they tried to move towards the BPSC office but were stopped due to the police barricades.
“The protesters were blocking a restricted area and despite repeated requests to vacate, they refused to comply. So, mild force was used to disperse them,” SSP Mishra said.
Eyewitnesses claimed that some aspirants got injured during the lathi-charge, but SSP Mishra denied the allegations.
“No protester suffered any injury. Only gentle force was used to deter those trying to breach the police barricade. We are now filing a report and scanning CCTV camera footage for further action,” he added.
Khan Sir Joins the Protest
The protest gained momentum when renowned educator and YouTuber Faizal Khan, widely known as Khan Sir, joined the demonstrators at Patna’s Gardanibagh area. Khan Sir, a popular figure among civil services aspirants, strongly opposed the BPSC’s normalization process.
“We want the president of BPSC to confirm that there will be no normalization and that the examination will be held in one shift with one paper for all students,” Khan Sir said.
He emphasized the lack of political motivations behind the protest.
“We have nothing to do with politics. We are here to raise our demands in a constitutional manner. The government must listen to us,” he said.
After his participation, Khan Sir was briefly detained by the police but released later that night.
Additional Concerns Raised by BPSC Aspirants
Apart from opposing normalization, protestors have highlighted other issues, including discrepancies in the registration process. Some students alleged that technical issues with the BPSC website prevented them from submitting their applications. Aspirants are now demanding an extension of the application deadline and assurance that all valid forms will be accepted.
Calls for Change from Political Leaders
The protest follows earlier demands made by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, who urged the BPSC to reconsider the normalization process and revert to the old exam format.
“The BPSC should conduct exams as they were previously done, without the normalization process. The Commission should also extend the examination date,” Yadav said in a statement.
The 70th BPSC Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination, scheduled for December 13, will recruit candidates for Group A and B posts. Around five lakh aspirants are expected to appear for the exam, which will take place across 925 centers.
