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New Delhi: Amid a raging controversy over a question asked in the state police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination, the examination controller of the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board has issued a clarification.

The controversy stems from a question that asked candidates to provide a one-word answer for “people who change according to opportunity”. The options given were: Pandit, Opportunist, Innocent and Virtuous. Objections were raised over the inclusion of the word “Pandit” among the options. The exam was held on Saturday.

What the recruitment board said on controversy

The controller said the recruitment board does not prepare question papers at the local level. Instead, the papers are set by highly confidential institutions to ensure secrecy before the examination. To maintain this confidentiality, even board-level officials or staff do not see the question papers in advance.

The statement further said that the sealed packets containing the question papers are opened for the first time inside the examination hall at the centres in the presence of two candidates before distribution. The controller added that an inquiry has been ordered into the question asked in the first shift of the exam held on Saturday (March 14), and action will be taken after the investigation.

BJP leaders demand action

Several BJP leaders also objected to the question and wrote to chief minister Yogi Adityanath seeking action.

Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak said the government has serious objections to the options provided in the question. In a post on X, he said any question that hurts the dignity of any community or group is unacceptable.

Abhijaat Mishra, secretary of the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit and a member of the Brahmin community, also wrote to chief minister Yogi Adityanath raising objections and demanding action against those responsible for preparing the question paper. In his letter, Mishra said the question appeared insensitive and poorly framed.