MPPSC SET 2026 Exam Marred by Controversy in Bhopal Over Pre-Used Question Papers
The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission's (MPSC) State Eligibility Test (SET) 2026 faced a significant disruption at the Kamla Nehru Higher Secondary School exam centre in Bhopal on Sunday. Approximately 150 candidates staged a protest after allegedly receiving question booklets that appeared to have been previously used, raising serious concerns about procedural integrity.
Allegations of Pre-Used Booklets Spark Candidate Outcry
Examinees reported that several distributed question booklets contained visible evidence of prior use, including:
- Tick marks and rough work scribbled on pages
- Pre-written names and roll numbers of other candidates
- Signs of handling that suggested the materials weren't fresh
This discovery immediately triggered suspicions among candidates about either a possible paper leak or gross mishandling of examination materials. The agitated candidates gathered outside the centre to protest what they perceived as a serious breach of examination protocol, eventually necessitating police intervention to manage the situation.
MPPSC's Official Response and Explanation
The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission swiftly refuted allegations of any paper leak. Dr. R. Panchbhai, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at MPPSC, provided an official explanation for the incident:
"A serial number mix-up during the distribution process led to previously used question booklets being accidentally distributed to some candidates. Once identified, these were immediately replaced with fresh, unused copies. To ensure fairness, additional time was granted to affected students to complete their examination without disadvantage."
The commission maintained that despite the distribution error, no compromise occurred regarding the examination's confidentiality or fairness.
Wider Examination Context and Other Irregularities
The SET 2026 examination witnessed substantial participation across Madhya Pradesh:
- Over 1.03 lakh candidates appeared out of 1.46 lakh registered applicants
- The exam was conducted across 309 centres statewide
- Indore alone saw approximately 28,000 candidates at about 100 centres, representing a 75% turnout
Separately, in Ujjain, examination authorities reported catching six candidates attempting to use prohibited electronic devices, including smartwatches, during the test. These incidents highlight ongoing challenges in maintaining examination integrity across multiple centres.
The Bhopal protest underscores growing concerns about examination administration standards in competitive tests, even as authorities work to address procedural lapses and maintain public confidence in the selection process.
