EXAM SCANDALS: BJP’S POLICY WITH “GOVERNMENT EXAM BUSINESS MODEL”

The UP Police Constable exam has yet again been speculated to be leaked. In Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul Gandhi met people in Pratapganj who pointed out the unfairness of the system. 48 lakh applicants from UP and several others from other states are trying their luck for 60,244 vacancies. Thus, the issue of a paper leak at the hands of a negligent overseeing by the Yogi Adityanath government becomes significant. Also, this is not the first time that such an incident at a mass level has been reported in Uttar Pradesh. In November 2021, an issue of paper leak in the UP Lekhpal exams was brought to light. 

The Uttar Pradesh police said that they had arrested at least 21 people from different districts on Sunday for allegedly helping examinees cheat through Bluetooth devices during a recruitment drive for 'Lekhpals' in the state revenue department. The Uttar Pradesh police, on orders by the Yogi Adityanath government in the state, is often at loggerheads, firstly denying allegations, then arresting perpetrators known as the “Exam Mafia''. This issue has garnered attention not only from opposition ministers like Akhilesh Yadav but also BJP ministers like Varun Gandhi who tweeted, “After paper leaks in the UP police, UPPCL, UPSSC, Tube well operator, PET, UPTET, B.Ed. , NEET exams, the cheating mafia was dominant in the 'Lekhpal' exams too. When will this organized education mafia play with the future of our youth? This is very unfortunate"

Youth are out on the streets criticizing the Modi government for the "Government Exam Business Model”. The application fee for these exams has kept on increasing while the surveillance and vigilance are becoming poorer by the day. The BJP government is making business off of the vulnerable youth, who are desperately looking for opportunities to make ends meet. 

In the last 5 years, 48 instances of paper leak have occurred in 16 states in India. Adding to this, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, was introduced in the Lok Sabha to prevent unfair means and bring transparency, fairness, and credibility to the public services exam ecosystem. However, the BJP government’s decision to leave implementation in the hands of the states creates room for non-uniform implementation across the country.  There should be amendments in the bill to include a central tenet to the bill against which state legislation can be held for greater uniformity. 

Another loophole is the need for more slabs or proper light on the fines and prison sentences.  For example, if the fine imposed on a service provider is not commensurate with the financial gains they derive from unfair means, it may not serve as a sufficient deterrent. The fine for the UP police constable exam, for instance, should be worth at least 10 years of pay and 10 years in prison. Similarly, light needs to be thrown on various grades of government exams.

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the Bill has “penal measures but not preventive measures”. NCP MP Supriya Sule mentioned that there should be provisions to tackle delays and cancellations of government exams and a timeline to conduct alternative exams. 

• Mohammad Ahwar