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Right answers to questions missing in PPSC exam
Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 11
Question: Poorna Malavath has created a record as the youngest female ever to climb Mt Everest. She belongs to which of the following states?

a) Jharkhand b) Chhattisgarh c) Telangana d) Karnataka

Q: Who has the power to abolish the legislative council (Vidhan Parishad) of a state ?

a) the President of India b) the Governor of the concerned state c) Cabinet of the state d) Legislative Assembly of the concerned state.

Q: Amrita Pritam was the first woman recipient of the Sahitya Academy Award in 1956. She was given this award as a recognition of which of her following literary works?

a) Kagaj te Canvas b) Sunehey c) Kala Gulab d) Rasidi Ticket

For all these questions above, the options given do not show the correct answer.

The right answer to first question is Andhra Pradesh as Telangana was formed after 13-year-old Poorna scaled Mt Everest.

The Vidhan Parishad can be dissolved only with the approval of Parliament — an option not mentioned in the answers

The book for which Amrita Pritam received the award is Sunehre, not Sunehe.

These are some examples of questions that were asked to 667 candidates, who appeared in the PCS (Executive branch) examination in June this year.

The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) that set the paper has come under fire. “The commission has received 47 objections from 40 candidates who appeared in the exam,” PPSC sources told The Tribune.

PPSC member Dalbir Singh Mahal admitted that many objections have been received.

He, however, said the paper won’t be cancelled. "We have an internal system to redress complaints.

The objections will be sent to the paper-setter. If the paper-setter doesn’t agree to these objections, we will form a committee of experts and their opinion will be taken. We will be able to sort out matter within 10 days," he said. This is the first time that eligible candidates from ministerial and other cadres are being selected for the state civil service through a proper written examination.

Till 2008, the process of selection was through nominations and interviews only. It was after a long drawn legal battle that the government decided to have a proper written examination followed by an interview. While 40 marks have been set aside for the written examination, 25 marks are for the Annual Confidential Reports of employees, 20 for the years of service put in by a candidate and 15 marks for the interview. Since the written examination is also a screening test, 75 candidates who top the written examination will now be eligible to participate in the interview. 

Candidates cry foul

* 667 candidates appeared in the PCS (Executive branch) examination in June this year.

* After the answer keys to the paper - having 100 questions - were made public, the candidates realised many answer options offered to them were not correct.

* PPSC has received 47 objections from 40 candidates who appeared in the exam.