Newmai News Network
Imphal | November 9
Confusion and disappointment prevailed among hundreds of civil service aspirants in Manipur as the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) cancelled the Manipur Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination (MCSCCE) 2022 Mains barely five minutes before the exams was to begin on Sunday.
The cancellation followed a mismatch between the heading and the content of the question paper.
The examination, held at three centres namely the TG Higher Secondary School, the MPSC Examination Hall in Imphal, and the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) office in Guwahati was for Paper-IV (General Studies-III) of the mains.
However, when the sealed packets were opened, candidates noticed that the heading on the paper did not match the questions inside.
Following complaints from candidates, the commission verified the issue and immediately called off the examination across all centres to ensure fairness.
Controller of Examination, MPSC, Kh Lalmani Singh, told reporters in Imphal that the error had occurred due to a mistake by the secured printing press entrusted with printing the confidential question papers.
He clarified that no official from the commission is allowed to check the papers beforehand to maintain secrecy and that the sealed packets are opened only in front of candidates inside the examination hall.
“The mismatch was discovered only when the sealed packet was opened before the start of the exam. The commission could not detect the error earlier as confidentiality is paramount,” he said.
In an official clarification, the MPSC expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to candidates and said a strict warning has been issued to the printing press not to repeat such grave errors in the future. The commission further notified that the cancelled examination will now be held on November 22, 2025.
Responding to media queries regarding candidates who travelled to Guwahati, Lalmani said the commission has discussed the matter and will consider approaching the government for necessary steps if formal complaints regarding travel allowance compensation are made. He also assured that the MPSC will take every possible measure to conduct future examinations transparently and on time, even considering conducting different examinations in alternate years to maintain regularity.
Meanwhile, the Thadou Students’ Association (TSA) strongly condemned the incident, terming it as “gross negligence” on the part of the commission. The student body demanded an immediate public apology and an official clarification from the MPSC, along with a high-level inquiry to fix accountability and take disciplinary action against those responsible. TSA also urged that candidates who had opted for the Guwahati centre, especially those belonging to the Thadou community, be allowed to shift their remaining papers to Imphal, citing improved inter-community relations and the need to save time and resources.
The preliminary examination for MCSCCE 2022 was conducted on April 30, 2023, but the mains had been indefinitely postponed following the outbreak of the Manipur crisis on May 3, 2023. After a long delay, the MPSC resumed the examination this November, hoping to complete the recruitment process. However, Sunday’s error has once again disrupted the schedule and left aspirants disheartened.
Lalmani reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting the remaining examinations without further issues. “We are committed to maintaining transparency and ensuring that such incidents do not happen again,” he said.
For now, all eyes are on the rescheduled exam on November 22, with the hope that the process will proceed smoothly and restore confidence among Manipur’s civil service aspirants.
