GUWAHATI
The Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) has decided to “drop/delete/cancel” a Manipur-related controversial question in an examination conducted on August 8 to recruit agricultural development officers.
In a letter to APSC Chairperson Debaraj Upadhaya on August 17, the Meitei Heritage Society (MHS) stated that question no 95 in the exam paper was malicious, disturbing, and misleading. The question was on the conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities and the role of Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, two radical groups.
“Such a one-sided portrayal is unbecoming of a Public Service Commission, whose mandate is to recruit public servants committed to fairness, impartiality, and service to the nation without prejudice,” the MHS said.
The MHS expressed serious concern for “selectively targeting one community while ignoring publicly available data on the role of Chin-Kuki militants and their civil society organisations”. It cited reports by the National Investigation Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, and a Supreme Court-appointed committee to make a point.
“Such misrepresentation not only tarnishes the image of a community but also undermines the credibility of the Commission,” the Meitei group said, requesting the APSC to issue a clarification acknowledging the biased nature of the question and declare the objectionable question null and void, ensuring it is not used for evaluation purposes.
“After considering our representation, the APSC informed us today (Tuesday) that it has decided to drop/delete/cancel question number 95,” an MHS spokesperson said.
Published – August 20, 2025 01:19 am IST
