ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Nov 27: The Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) was left red-faced after an error was detected in one of the subject papers during the preliminary examinations held on Sunday. 

Reportedly question (1) of Sociology (optional subject) carried 4 optional answers which were all incorrect, resulting in frustration among the aspirants for whom 1 mark is make or break. 

The matter came to light when an aspirant took to social networking site to point out the error.

When this daily contacted Deputy Secretary, APPSC, Tayi Taggu to substantiate the allegation, he admitted that several complaints have been received and assured to take up the matter with Commission members to arrive at a decision. The official assured that no aspirant will suffer for the error. 

“Already we have received complaints regarding the question from few aspirants and we will look into the matter as it is about students careers,” he affirmed adding that reports and data from all centers are awaited. 

However, maintaining that the Commission is not responsible for the “slip-up”, Taggu clarified that the sealed papers were opened only during the examination.

“If required we will seek clarification from paper setters or regulator about the ‘oversight’ but before that, the Commission has to verify the mistake and for that it will take some time,” he added. 

After getting all information then we will be able to initiate specific step regarding the matter, he said refusing to comment further on the issue.

Meanwhile expressing anguish over the development, few aspirants have sought clarification from the commission for the blunder, which they say wasn’t expected from the state’s public service commission. 

While few sought grace marks for the error, an aspirant while questioning the integrity of the APPSC alleged that the Public Administration subject questions was “facsimile” from a Pakistani examination and requested the commission not to copy paste from such website. However this daily cannot confirm the authenticity of the allegation. 

In the history of the APPSC, this year a record 22599 aspirants took the test for a total of 105 posts which includes CO, DSP, DSO etc. 

In two centres under the twin capital complex, a total of 5530 candidates applied for the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Combined Competitive Examination (APPSCCE) out of which about thousand were absent. 

The exams were conducted peacefully in all districts, a source from the commission disclosed. However data from other districts is awaited, he said. 

The Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) is no stranger to controversies. This is not the first time that the Commission is facing the heat. Few years back this prestigious establishment was embroiled in controversy over alleged question paper leakage.