The recent protests surrounding the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) have sparked significant public attention, especially with the involvement of popular educator Khan Sir. Ideally, these protests are centered around changes made to the rules for the upcoming 70th BPSC Preliminary Examination. Scheduled for December 13, this event was initially met with rising anxiety among the students, largely due to earlier comments from BPSC chairman, Ravi S Parmar, hinting at potential normalization policies for future exams.
Khan Sir, whose real name is Faizal Khan, has become increasingly synonymous with the aspirations of students preparing for competitive exams. His popularity as both a tutor and YouTuber makes him one of the notable figures voicing support for the protesting BPSC aspirants. Unfortunately, during the protests, Khan Sir's health deteriorated, leading to dehydration and fever, which necessitated his hospitalization. Footage of him collapsing amid the demonstration intensified concerns and somewhat overshadowed the protests themselves.
Firstly, let's break down what exactly normalization entails. When multiple shifts of the same examination are conducted, normalization is supposed to create fairness by adjusting scores to reflect different levels of difficulty across said shifts. While this method has been used effectively in various entrance exams nationally, it has sparked fears among students over transparency and potential corrupt practices. This fear was exacerbated when students demanded written assurance from the BPSC against introducing these normalization methods for the impending exam, especially since they believed such measures could skew the fairness of their results.
The protests gained momentum particularly after the police lathi-charged the demonstrators attempting to block traffic near the BPSC office. Eyewitness accounts painted images of chaos, as law enforcement clashed with students who simply sought clarity about their future and the examination process. Meanwhile, the demonstrations prompted strong statements from political leaders, all eager to align themselves with the plight of the students.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was vocal about his claims against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, branding the current governance regime as “tired and retired.” Yadav expressed discontent over what he perceives as neglect from the administration toward aspirants. He pointed out the government's apparent failure to act on advice related to the protests, which aligned with the students’ calls for clarity about the examination rules.
Just days before the protests escalated, the BPSC had announced clarifications stating they would not utilize normalization for the upcoming prelims. This announcement came as part of their official communication after extensive student agitation led to mounting pressures and public discussions concerning the potential changes.
Figures suggest around 4.25 lakh students are prepping for the BPSC prelims, with only 2,200 available positions, making opportunities for government jobs highly competitive. Given Bihar's economic terrain, where government jobs are often among the few reliable opportunities, any modifications to the screening processes are met with deep scrutiny.
Student groups argued repeatedly for the necessity of having one-shift, one-question-paper formats, insisting it creates equality among test-takers. Khan Sir has also made notable claims arguing against normalization, particularly emphasizing how subjective elements of the General Studies paper cannot be uniformly assessed. His issues with normalization parallel the broader frustrations expressed by many students.
The situation saw involvement from several political factions. RJD's national spokesperson, Subodh Kumar Mehta, voiced concerns over the confusion normalization could create, echoing sentiments surrounding the trust deficit between students and the BPSC. State Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta didn't shy away from condemning the police actions, emphasizing the importance of reasonable and accessible examination practices.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson, Manoj Sharma, suggested the issue was resolved with recent clarifications by the BPSC, the general uproar suggests otherwise. Many believe the matter remains unresolved, highlighting broader concerns about governance and bureaucracy affecting aspiring students.
Overall, the turmoil surrounding the BPSC has become emblematic of larger issues concerning educational transparency and youth engagement within the climate of Bihar politics. The protests reflect the yearning of young aspirants not only for clarity on the examination rules but also for more significant changes within the governmental approach to education and employment. With Khan Sir being hospitalized amid this unrest, the events have magnified the stakes for students across the state. For many, the outcome of the BPSC exams could fundamentally alter their life trajectories; this urgency underlies the fierce protests sweeping through Bihar at this time.