The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) conducted a retest on Saturday for a select group of candidates following allegations of a question paper leak in the recent 70th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE).
The re-exam, held at 22 centres in Patna, ran from 12 pm to 2 pm and saw participation from 5,943 candidates out of the 12,012 who had downloaded their admit cards.
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In a statement, the BPSC confirmed that the retest was conducted peacefully without any reports of misconduct. The original exam, held on December 13, sparked controversy over claims of a question paper leak, which the commission has denied. Nonetheless, a fresh test was ordered for 12,000 candidates who had appeared at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar centre.
Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh noted that the administration ensured stringent measures for the retest, including guidelines prohibiting unauthorized gatherings or protests within 200 metres of exam centres.
However, the controversy surrounding the December 13 examination continues to grow. Protesters, supported by political leaders and organisations, demand the cancellation of the exam for all five lakh candidates who appeared at over 900 centres across Bihar. Independent MP Pappu Yadav and Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor have been at the forefront of the agitation.
Yadav led a series of protests on Friday, disrupting rail and road traffic across the state, while Kishor continues his fast-unto-death at Gandhi Maidan, calling for a fair retest for all candidates. Kishor alleged widespread corruption in the state’s recruitment process, claiming hefty bribes are exchanged for government jobs.
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Despite repeated appeals, BPSC went ahead with the retest for candidates from the Bapu Pariksha Parishar centre. Kishor criticised the decision, suggesting the government ignored the plight of over 3.5 lakh aspirants demanding a level playing field. He also hinted at potential legal action against the commission.
The district administration has deemed Kishor’s protest site “illegal,” but he remains firm, accusing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government of fostering corruption in recruitment. “I am sure that the protests will intensify further after today’s exam,” Kishor warned, as aspirants and political leaders weigh their next steps.