Bihar SI exam probe: EOU forms SIT to investigate BPSSC irregularities
Synopsis
Bihar's Economic Offences Unit has formed a Special Investigation Team to probe alleged irregularities in the Sub-Inspector recruitment exam — a case that began with question-paper photographs from Gaya and Purnea centres and has now drawn state-level intervention. With 35,857 candidates in limbo and the Physical Efficiency Test suspended, the probe's scope could widen well beyond two districts.
Key Takeaways
The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) constituted an SIT on 31 August to probe alleged irregularities in the BPSSC Sub-Inspector written examination .
The exam was held in May 2024 to fill 1,799 Police Sub-Inspector vacancies in Bihar.
EOU has taken over FIRs from Gaya and Purnea ; investigators will check if irregularities occurred at other centres.
Around 35,857 candidates appeared for the preliminary exam; 414 were disqualified for alleged malpractice.
The Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and document verification have been postponed until further orders.
Dwivedi denied any paper leak, stating the Commission itself lodged the FIRs and arrests have been made.
The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged irregularities in the main written examination for recruitment of 1,799 Police Sub-Inspectors, conducted by the Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) in May 2024. The SIT formation, confirmed on 31 August, comes after student delegations raised concerns with the Education Department Secretary and the state government directed the EOU to take over the cases.
Cases Taken Over from Gaya and Purnea
The EOU has assumed jurisdiction over First Information Reports (FIRs) registered at Rampur police station in Gaya and in Purnea in connection with the alleged malpractice. Officials said the agency will examine whether similar incidents took place at other examination centres or districts across the state. Complaints and information received from candidates and parents through helpline numbers and other channels are also being reviewed as part of the probe.
What Triggered the Controversy
The controversy escalated after photographs of a question paper surfaced from an examination centre. The BPSSC, however, maintained that there was no paper leak. According to the Commission, staff at one centre each in Gaya and Purnea allegedly photographed unused question papers belonging to absent candidates — papers that were taken outside only after the examination had concluded. The distinction is significant: the Commission argues the photographs were taken post-exam, not during it.
Notably, BPSSC Chairman K.S. Dwivedi reiterated the Commission's position that the written test was conducted fairly. 'There was no paper leak in the Sub-Inspector recruitment examination. Upon receiving complaints of irregularities in Purnea and Gaya, the Commission itself lodged FIRs, and arrests have been made,' he said.
SIT Action Plan and Investigation Scope
EOU officials convened a meeting on Monday to prepare a detailed investigation plan, reviewing evidence gathered during the initial police probe alongside the FIRs from Gaya and Purnea. EOU DIG Manavjit Singh Dhillon confirmed the development, stating: 'The EOU has taken over the cases from Purnea and Gaya to investigate allegations of irregularities in the Sub-Inspector written examination. An SIT has been constituted, and an action plan formulated. Complaints received from some candidates are also being examined.'
Impact on Candidates and Recruitment Process
The BPSSC has postponed the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and document verification process until further orders, leaving thousands of aspirants in uncertainty. Around 35,857 candidates appeared for the preliminary written examination, while 414 were disqualified for alleged malpractice or other reasons. The recruitment drive was aimed at filling 1,799 Sub-Inspector vacancies in the Bihar Police.
The EOU's intervention marks a significant escalation in scrutiny over Bihar's police recruitment process. With the SIT now operational and a wider district-by-district review underway, the outcome of this probe is likely to determine whether the recruitment cycle can resume — or faces a fresh round of legal and administrative challenges.
Point of View
Yet the recruitment cycle is now frozen. If the SIT's district-by-district sweep uncovers irregularities beyond Gaya and Purnea, the Commission's credibility — and the entire recruitment round — will be difficult to salvage. Bihar's examination integrity record has faced repeated scrutiny in recent years; this case fits a pattern that has yet to produce systemic reform.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the EOU formed an SIT for the Bihar SI exam?
The Economic Offences Unit formed an SIT on 31 August to investigate alleged irregularities in the BPSSC Sub-Inspector written examination held in May 2024. The move followed student delegations demanding a probe and a state government directive to the EOU to take over FIRs registered in Gaya and Purnea.
Was there a paper leak in the Bihar Sub-Inspector exam?
The BPSSC has denied any paper leak. According to the Commission, staff at centres in Gaya and Purnea allegedly photographed unused question papers of absent candidates, but only after the exam concluded. The EOU SIT will independently examine this claim along with other complaints.
How many candidates are affected by the Bihar SI exam controversy?
Around 35,857 candidates appeared for the preliminary written examination, and 414 were disqualified for alleged malpractice or other reasons. The Physical Efficiency Test and document verification for all qualifying candidates have been postponed indefinitely pending the SIT investigation.
What is the BPSSC's position on the irregularities?
BPSSC Chairman K.S. Dwivedi maintained that the written examination was conducted fairly and transparently. He said the Commission itself filed the FIRs upon receiving complaints and that arrests have already been made in connection with the Gaya and Purnea incidents.
What happens next in the Bihar SI recruitment process?
The SIT will investigate FIRs from Gaya and Purnea and review complaints from candidates received via helpline numbers. Officials have indicated the probe may extend to other districts. The Physical Efficiency Test and document verification remain suspended until further orders, leaving the recruitment timeline uncertain.
