Patna, May 2: The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has cancelled the Assistant Education Development Officer (AEDO) exam due to irregularities and cheating incidents reported across six districts. The decision follows the registration of eight FIRs related to the exam’s conduct.
The BPSC has also banned 32 candidates from participating in any future examinations conducted by the commission. Approximately 1.1 million candidates had applied for this exam.
During the AEDO exam, district authorities successfully thwarted attempts to cheat using Bluetooth and other electronic devices at various centres. Investigations revealed a conspiracy involving certain anti-social elements and candidates to disrupt the examination process. As a result, the Nalanda police arrested a candidate who was allegedly being assisted with answers during the exam.
The BPSC has announced that all nine sessions of the AEDO exam, conducted from April 14 to April 21, have been cancelled. Additionally, the written exam for the Assistant Public Sanitation and Waste Management Officer, scheduled for April 23, has also been called off. New dates for these examinations will be announced soon, and candidates are advised to keep an eye on the official website for updates.
This was the first time vacancies for AEDO positions were advertised in Bihar, with the BPSC responsible for conducting the exam. A fee of ₹100 was charged for application, with a total of 935 positions available. The exam was conducted in three phases across 746 centres in all 38 districts.
The cancellation comes in light of serious allegations of misconduct, including the arrest of 36 individuals, primarily from Munger. Despite the chaos, the BPSC clarified that there was no concrete evidence of question paper leaks or any series of papers being circulated outside.
In response to the cheating attempts, the commission has taken a firm stance, emphasizing that the integrity and dignity of the examination process are paramount.
Authorities are continuing their investigations, including examining a WhatsApp group linked to the cheating scheme, where answers were reportedly shared among candidates.
The BPSC remains committed to ensuring a fair examination process and will implement necessary measures to uphold its standards.