The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) on Monday blacklisted two experts and ordered an inquiry after a question in a state civil services preliminary exam paper on whether Kashmir should be handed over to Pakistan to save India “a lot of money” sparked a row, reported Hindustan Times.
The paper went viral on social media on Sunday and provoked outrage. The answer key said the second-choice that the region should not be handed over because it will encourage secession is right, reported the newspaper.
MPPSC media coordinator Ravindra Panchbai cited norms and told Hindustan Times that the commission cannot disclose the names of experts. “…the two experts have been blacklisted for life. The MPPSC also wrote to other commissions and higher education departments asking them to blacklist them too. We have also informed the institutions where they are working to take action.”
Panchbai said an inquiry has been ordered to probe why the scrutiny committee allowed the question. He added MPPSC has nothing to do with the paper and the question.
“A committee of experts finalises the question paper after subject experts submit the questions. To maintain confidentiality, MPPSC receives a sealed envelope of the examination papers and they go directly for printing. No officer of MPPSC is allowed to see a paper before the examination.” He added when they came to know about the paper, they took cognisance and cancelled the question.
