Assam Recruitment Board Removes Controversial Manipur Crisis Question

Rapid Summary

• The Assam public Service Commission (APSC) has decided to drop a controversial Manipur-related question from an examination held on August 8 for agricultural growth officer recruitment.
• Question 95 referred to the conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities and mentioned two radical groups, Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun.
• The Meitei Heritage Society (MHS) raised objections through a letter dated August 17, calling the question malicious, misleading, and divisive.
• MHS argued that the question unfairly targeted one community while disregarding documented roles of Chin-Kuki militants as per reports by investigative agencies like NIA, CBI, and a Supreme Court-appointed panel.
• Following representation by MHS, APSC agreed to cancel question number 95 entirely from evaluation purposes.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The decision by the APSC to cancel a potentially biased examination question highlights the importance of maintaining neutrality in public service examinations that assess candidates for positions in governance or administration.Examinations conducted by such bodies must adhere strictly to impartiality standards given their long-term impact on public trust in state institutions. Addressing grievances raised by impacted stakeholders-in this case, MHS-aligns with principles of accountability and fairness, especially when questions involve sensitive ethnic or communal issues like those surrounding the ongoing tensions in Manipur. By retracting this question, APSC attempts to steer clear of further controversies while seeking clarity for future evaluative processes.

Read more at Indian Opinion