Even after the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) clarified last week that there will be no normalization in the exam to be held on December 13, the issue continues to rage.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday (Dec 8) slammed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying the “tired and retired” Bihar government does not take suggestions, but must ultimately “bow down to the courage of the youth”.
“Where was the Chief Minister who was in the hands of the police administration for the last 10 days in the case of BPSC candidates?” Our party tried to warn the government by opposing normalization in the state assembly on November 28. But this tired and retired government won’t listen,” he posted on X.
BPSC issued a notification on Friday (December 6) evening saying that its 70th Preliminary Examination (PT) will be conducted on December 13 in one shift and with one set of papers. After a crowd of protestors gathered in PatnaAnd the police used lathi charge.
last month, Protests were also held in Uttar Pradesh Against generalization.
What is normalization and what is happening around it in Bihar?
What is normalization?
If an examination with the same or different sets of papers is conducted in multiple shifts, a ‘normalization’ formula is used to ensure that aspirants from one shift or those who answer an easier set of papers are not unfairly advantaged. others Scores of all candidates are made comparable through normalization, addition, subtraction or adjustment.
Normalization is in use in NEET-UG and some other multi-shift competitive exams.
What was the problem in Bihar?
Concerns were heightened when BPSC Chairman Ravi S Parmar recently commented that even if normalization did not come in the 70th prelims, it could be brought in the 71st. Fearing the lack of transparency in the process and the possibility of corruption, the students started demanding that the BPSC conduct the examination in writing stating that the examination would not be normal.
Around 4.25 lakh students will appear for the BPSC Prelims on December 13 for a total of 2,200 total seats. PT will be followed by written test and interview for final selection.
Employment is a major issue in Bihar, and along with some industries, government jobs are highly sought after. Any proposed change in the format, thus, causes concern.
The question of jobs has also become a major political tool of late, with both the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan making employment a major part of their election manifestos.
As of now, normalization has not been adopted in public service examinations in Bihar, it is being practiced in Teacher Recruitment Tests (TREs). Two such TREs have been conducted.
What did the protestors and political parties say?
Students, teachers and political leaders advocated a single-shift, single-paper system for BPSC Prelims.
Faisal Khan, an educationist from Patna, popularly known as Khan Sir, said: “There may be equal scores in subjects like Mathematics, but how can questions be quantified in General Studies, which is a BPSC PT subject? While neither UPSC nor any other state commission adopts normalization for its civil service examination, it should not be adopted by BPSC either. “
Student leader Dilip Kumar added: “One shift of exams, one paper pattern is the best way, has been practiced for years. This ensures consistency and there is no need to change it.”
Political parties are also involved in the discussion.
RJD national spokesperson Subodh Kumar Mehta said: “The proposed normalization policy may create confusion in the minds of stakeholders. It reflects the lack of trust between students and BPSC.
Mehta added: “With so much social inequality and only a few government jobs available, Bihar is sitting on a demographic bomb that can explode at any moment. CM Nitish Kumar needs to deal with job aspirants with sensitivity, and sad attempts like normalization of BPSC It should be instructed not to.
Bihar Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta said: “Congress strongly condemns police lathicharge on candidates protesting normalization. Competitive exams should be conducted in one shift, one paper format.
BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma, meanwhile, said: “The BPSC has put the matter on hold, clarifying that there will be no normalization in the upcoming BPSC PT. There is no need to hammer on the issue now.”