The West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) on August 20, had to cancel the Urdu examination and reschedule it after the candidates complained that questions in paper II are copied from previous year paper. According to WBPSC official, it was first reported from an examination centre in Ultadanga, Kolkata. The Civil Service Main Exams 2018 which began on August 17, were scheduled to be concluded on August 21, due to this blunder, candidates will have to sit for another exam. On September 1, the Urdu examination for WBPSC will be held in two halves—Paper 1 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and Paper 2 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Tarantula scare in West Bengal! One Man Hospitalised After Spider Bite at Murshidabad. 

A WBPSC spokesperson was quoted in media reports about the discrepancy, “The examination of the first half went smoothly, but the allegation of a duplicate Urdu paper reported in the second half of the examination.” The commission will also set up an enquiry committee to investigate the matter. Soon, the WBPSC released a statement about the cancellation of the exam and its reschedule. It reads, “Due to certain unavoidable circumstances the Commission has decided to cancel the examination in optional paper in Urdu (Both Paper-I and Paper-II) of West Bengal Civil Services (Main) examination, 2018, scheduled August 20. Commission has rescheduled the date of examination for optional paper in Urdu in West Bengal Civil Services (Main) examination, 2018, on September 1.”

Meanwhile, the candidates are in stress as they fear that the commission might set a tough question paper. Around 4,215 candidates appeared in the WBPSC Mains 2018. The questions can be repeated from the previous year’s, but theoretically, only 30 per cent could be similar. But in this case, 100 per cent of the questions were similar to the previous year’s paper. Hence, exams for both first half and second half papers were declared cancelled immediately by the commission.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 22, 2018 04:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).