BPSC aspirants protest over normalisation amid lathi-charge by Patna police, demand clarity on exam process

Hundreds of aspirants for the Bihar Public Service Commission’s (BPSC) 70th Combined Preliminary Examination gathered outside the BPSC office in Patna on Friday to protest the potential application of normalization in the examination’s scoring system. The exam is scheduled to be held on December 13 across 925 centers in Bihar, with approximately 4.8 lakh candidates expected to appear for the exam.

Normalization is a process used to adjust scores when an exam is held in multiple shifts, ensuring fairness by correcting any discrepancies in the difficulty of the exam papers. However, candidates have expressed concerns that normalization could result in an unfair assessment of their performance, particularly as the exam will be held in a single shift across all centers.

The protesters are demanding that the BPSC issue an official statement confirming that normalization will not be applied in the 70th Combined Preliminary Examination. They also called for the exam to be conducted in a one-shift, one-paper format, arguing that this would ensure fairness and consistency in the process.

In response to the protests, Patna police intervened and used force to disperse the crowd. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anu Kumari stated that the protest was unauthorized and that the protesters were obstructing traffic. She mentioned that the police were seeking the names of five individuals to form a delegation to meet with the BPSC and discuss the issues raised by the protesters.

The BPSC has yet to confirm the introduction of normalization in the upcoming examination. According to the BPSC Secretary, if normalization were to be implemented, it would have been explicitly mentioned in the official notification or through a separate notice. The BPSC has clarified that the examination will be conducted as scheduled on December 13 without any changes to the scoring process.

Further issues were raised by candidates who reported technical problems during the application process. Some candidates claimed they were unable to complete their registration due to server-related issues. These candidates have requested that they be given an extra day to complete their application, citing difficulties in submitting their forms.

The 70th BPSC Combined Preliminary Examination will be held in a single shift across 925 centers in Bihar, and admit cards for the exam were released by the BPSC on Friday. As the exam date approaches, candidates are seeking clarity and resolution regarding their concerns about the exam process.