UP Police Recruitment Exam Question Ignites Political Controversy
A seemingly innocuous question in the Uttar Pradesh Police Sub-Inspector Recruitment Examination has erupted into a significant political controversy, drawing objections from within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) itself. The examination, conducted on Saturday, included a question in the Hindi language section that has been deemed insensitive and potentially offensive by senior party leaders.
The Controversial Question and Its Options
In the Hindi language section of the competitive test, question number 20 presented candidates with a phrase: ‘avsar ke anusar badal jaane wala,’ which translates to ‘one who changes according to opportunity.’ The examinees were required to select a one-word answer from four provided options: ‘nishkapat’ (meaning innocent), ‘sadachari’ (virtuous), ‘pandit’ (a learned person, traditionally also used for Brahmins), and ‘avsarvadi’ (opportunist). The inclusion of ‘pandit’ as a possible synonym for opportunist has become the focal point of the dispute.
Senior BJP Leaders Voice Strong Objections
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak was among the first to publicly condemn the question. In a post on social media platform X, Pathak stated that such content was "unacceptable" and emphasized that the state government has taken the matter seriously. He declared, "Objections have been raised on the question and any content hurting the dignity of any caste, community, or social group is unacceptable." Pathak further announced that instructions have been issued for an immediate investigation into how the question was framed and approved, with promises of action against those found responsible.
Adding to the chorus of disapproval, BJP MLA from Badlapur in Jaunpur district, Ramesh Chandra Mishra, wrote directly to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to formally object. Mishra argued that the question, which asks for a synonym for ‘opportunistic’ with ‘Pandit’ as one of the options, is deeply objectionable. He contended that it has hurt the sentiments of the intellectual community, noting that the term ‘Pandit’ traditionally denotes a scholar or a learned person. Linking it with opportunism, he asserted, was entirely inappropriate and demanded a departmental inquiry against the committee that finalized the examination paper.
Uttar Pradesh BJP secretary Abhijat Mishra also submitted a written complaint to the Chief Minister, labeling the question as insensitive and incorrectly framed. He claimed, "The term ‘Pandit’ is associated with knowledge and religious respect. Linking it with opportunism is inappropriate, insensitive and may have been done deliberately." This suggestion of possible deliberate intent has added another layer of seriousness to the controversy.
Government Response and Demands for Action
The state government has responded promptly to the escalating situation. Deputy CM Pathak confirmed that a probe has been ordered to scrutinize the entire process of question paper setting and approval. The investigation aims to identify lapses and hold accountable any individuals or committees responsible for the inclusion of the contentious question.
MLA Ramesh Chandra Mishra has called for the outright rejection of the question from the evaluation process. Furthermore, he has urged the authorities to implement stricter guidelines and greater sensitivity in framing future examination questions to prevent recurrence of such incidents. The demand underscores a broader concern about maintaining cultural and social respect in official competitive examinations.
This controversy highlights the delicate balance required in educational and recruitment assessments, where linguistic precision and cultural sensitivity are paramount. The incident has sparked a wider discussion on the oversight mechanisms for examination content in Uttar Pradesh, with political figures across the spectrum likely to monitor the government's next steps closely.
