Bihar's prodigal science and Manipur's MPSC

Waikhom Christopher Singh *

Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) Building in Imphal in March 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

Eye brows were raised when the topper of Bihar's class XII Arts confidently said that Prodigal Science (political science) is a subject for cooking. On asking how many subjects she appeared for, the topper gave a fumble reply: "May be five or six".

Some thousand kilometres away from Bihar, an examination supposed for selecting the best mind was conducted in Manipur, Preliminary Examination of MPSC Civil Services Examination, 2016. The examination was scheduled for February 2016. But, it was cancelled because of large number of outsider candidates applying for the highest rank in entry level post meant for administration of the tiny state.

And it was conducted on 15th May 2016. In this examination the question papers in all the four series A, B, C and D in the 9th section states that there will be no penalty for wrong answers. But, in the next heading the instruction states there will be penalty for wrong answers marked by a candidate in the objective type question papers. This type of obnoxious instruction shall bound cancellation of the examination and punishes those responsible for it.

The examination was cancelled but those who are responsible for mocking the examination were not punished. Punishment! Are we really serious? Thus, for the third time the examination was scheduled on 3rd of July 2016 and it was conducted with anxiety and curiosity among the candidates and general public at large wondering what awaits with this examination too.

MPSC maintains its track record with this examination too. There were nearly twenty questions which have major error and most among them were totally wrong. Many made their complaints but MPSC made changes to only few, stating it was according to the recommendation of the experts.

It will be extremely delightful for the candidates who appeared in the examination and people at large if MPSC may clarify with the questions below which were complained but no changes were made.

1. Reservation in favour of socially and educationally backward classes under the Constitution according to MPSC is provided in Article 15(4).

Any individual who are handy with Articles on Fundamental Rights provided in the Constitution are aware that it is provided in Article 16 (This option was also there in the answer key).

2. According to MPSC, Humpi (an UNESCO heritage site) is located on the southern bank of Tungabhadra basin in Central Karnataka, Bellary District.

Humpi is not in central Karnataka. It is in Eastern Karnataka's district of Bellary. Bellary district as many would easily understand is situated on the eastern side of Karnataka, bordering Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh.

3. According to MPSC wood is a fossil fuel. (My nephew reading in CBSE's VI standards say "Uncle, wood is not a fossil fuel". How should I convince him that CBSE is wrong?)

In view of the above recommendation made by the so called experts of MPSC, it is evidently doubtful whether MPSC is really inspired by the rediscovery, "Prodigal Science is a subject concern with cooking". And, it is of no astonishment with the courage and boldness of Secretary General of MPSC to come out with the clarification as Press Note No. 7/1/2016-MPSC (DR) dated 18-07-16 stating category wise cut-off marks.

This clarification further confirms the logic and mental aptitudes of basic arithmetic and basics of Indian polity of those who set multiple choice questions on basic arithmetic and Indian polity. Perhaps this might be the explanation, why multiple choice questions for every preliminary examination on basic arithmetic and Indian polity has major errors.

For people who are in good hands of experts who suggest Article 15(4) of Indian constitution provides reservation in favour of socially and educationally backward classes are bound to calculate reservation norms in his/her own style -likes and dislikes – without ever referring the standards and norms of calculating reservation ratio.

For many who read and tried hard to digest the reservation breakup of MPSC notification dated 18-07-16 are perhaps fetched with a tiny cerebrum as they cannot grasp the logic of IAS Mr. General Secretary of MPSC. It took repeated reading to understand the said Press Note's clarification, as it is of a unique kind. I hope it is unique not only for the state but also for India.

But this uniqueness will be hardly acceptable to the people and more importantly to the Judges of the High Court. I hope and wish the Secretary General of MPSC to preserve/retain his boldness and courage till he appears in the High Court so he might explain his style/logic of calculating the unique reservation ratio. The Judges of High Court shall be extremely happy to experience such moment of entertainment.

Is this only the first time that this office has issued such nonsensical notification? No. Three college principals were selected by MPSC in 2015 on the basis of calculation of their UGC's API (Academic Performance Index) points. But the said API calculation proved wrong and the appointment and service of the principals were cancelled by the High Court and Supreme Court.

The calculation of the said API was MPSC's own style of calculating API. They don't bother to refer the UGC's guidelines on how to calculate API. (I hope the Judges of High Court and Supreme Court were entertained with the MPSC's calculation of API points which is nowhere mentioned in UGC's Regulation)

And for the post of 280 Assistant Professors in the colleges of Manipur, leaving aside the reservation rules violation, the MPSC issued series of notification which amounted nearly 15 notifications for conducting the screening test. The latest notification was 24 hours prior to the screening test. Hold your breath. It was notification on the changes of eligibility criteria.

MPSC does not learn and perhaps will never learn. Failed with 3 Principals of colleges' selection on ground of UGC's API points they came up with its own style of conducting the selection procedure of the above said 280 Assistant Professors, as if they can, without following UGC Regulation.

Written examination as screening test, ratio of candidates for interview and allocation of academic records are all MPSC's own model in violation of UGC's Regulation. MPSC certainly believes that UGC is the funding agencies but not a regulating body. MPSC may kindly read Gazette of India on UGC. It may serve as a wonder for MPSC that as per the Gazette of India, UGC is a regulating body on higher education and it has power to cancel funds (e.g. colleges in Manipur) for non-compliance of its Regulations.

It is obvious from the track record of MPSC that in this matter also they are following the recommendation of experts. Does MPSC ever read the UGC Regulations? I sincerely believe that they have not. If API score can be the basis for cancellation of principals it is for sure that the process for selection of Assistant Professors will be cancelled for not following UGC Regulation.

UGC Regulation has clear instruction on the selection procedure to be followed by State Public Commission for appointment of Assistant professor in the colleges.

"Prodigal science, the subject talks about the preparation of food" was of latest rediscovery in Bihar. What awaits in Manipur is the rediscovery of MPSC's API points calculation, selection procedure of Assistant professors for colleges, MPSC's own interpretation of Indian Constitution, wood as a fossil fuel and its own manual of reservation ratio calculation.

Thank you MPSC for the entertainment.