Major Biometric Fraud Rocks BPSC Assistant Education Development Officer Recruitment Exam
A significant alleged fraud has shaken the Bihar Public Service Commission's (BPSC) assistant education development officer (AEDO) recruitment examination, centering on a biometric attendance company with a controversial history. The Jaipur-based firm, Sai Educare Private Limited, was blacklisted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on October 15, 2025, due to serious irregularities in a Gujarat high court recruitment examination. Despite this blacklisting, the company was awarded the biometric contract for the BPSC exam, which took place from April 14 to April 21 at approximately 700 centers across Bihar to fill 935 posts in the education department.
Scandal Unfolds with Complaints and Arrests
The scandal emerged after numerous complaints were lodged during and after the three-paper exam, which included language, general studies, and aptitude sections. So far, 30 individuals have been arrested from five districts, with five separate First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by local police in connection with the scam. In response, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police established a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Saturday, April 18, to investigate the case. The SIT was formed under the instructions of Additional Director General Nayyar Hasnain Khan and is led by Superintendent of Police (administration) Rajesh Kumar.
Modus Operandi of the Fraudulent Network
EOU Deputy Inspector General Manavjit Singh Dhillon revealed that Sai Educare Private Limited allegedly hired individuals linked to the "examination mafia" as contract employees. These operatives used biometric tablets to photograph question papers at the last moment, transmit them outside examination centers for quick solving, and then supply answer keys to candidates who had paid—all under the guise of routine biometric verification. Dhillon explained that this scheme has been identified in at least five districts: Munger, Nalanda, Gaya, Sheikhpura, and Begusarai, where biometric company employees were found to be compromised.
The education mafia planted these individuals, operating through a clear network. Five separate FIRs have been lodged by police in these districts, and the EOU has taken over the investigation. Arrests include 22 in Munger (with the first case registered on April 15), three in Nalanda, two in Begusarai, one in Vaishali on Saturday, and two in Gaya on Tuesday. All arrested individuals, including candidates, biometric operators, and alleged suppliers of tablets, are now in EOU custody.
Investigation Details and Seizures
The SIT is currently transferring case diaries, seizures, and court permissions as part of its probe. Seizures include mobile phones, biometric devices, and admit cards of candidates. Errors in biometric data have been detected at several exam centers; in some instances, candidates were recorded as present, but their identity records did not match. Dhillon confirmed that the fraud affected all three papers of the single-sitting objective examination, prompting the formation of the SIT due to its spread across five districts. Officials suspect the racket may be broader, with investigations ongoing to determine how many biometric candidates paid money.
Key Questions on Contract Award and Blacklisting
A critical issue under examination is how Sai Educare Private Limited secured the BPSC contract despite being blacklisted by the NTA two months after the BPSC advertisement was issued in August 2025. The tender process for BPSC examinations is kept confidential, without public advertisements, unlike regular government tenders, and only a few senior BPSC officials were aware of the details. Dhillon stated that the team will inquire with BPSC officials about the entire process, noting that the company was duty-bound to disclose its blacklisting, and BPSC will be asked if it received any prior information.
Ongoing Probe and Future Implications
Dhillon described the arrests as "just the beginning," emphasizing that the gang involved not only biometric staff but also candidates and external facilitators. Establishing the education mafia connection remains a priority. The investigation is currently focused on the five districts but may expand as more evidence surfaces. This case highlights significant vulnerabilities in recruitment processes and raises concerns about oversight in biometric verification systems for high-stakes exams.
