Bihar Public Service Commission Examination Leak Case

In February 2025, days before the Bihar Public Service Commission preliminary examination, the question paper was leaked and circulated via encrypted messaging apps and social media groups. Over 500,000 candidates were scheduled to appear. Police investigation revealed a network involving a former BPSC official who allegedly accessed the paper, a printing press worker who copied it, and intermediaries who sold it for up to 1 million rupees per candidate. The leak was traced to a cybercafe in Patna where the paper was digitally distributed. Mass protests erupted, and the state government cancelled the exam and ordered a CBI inquiry. Several arrests were made across multiple districts.

The trial is ongoing as of mid-2026. Multiple accused, including the former BPSC official and intermediaries, are in judicial custody. Charges have been framed under the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act, and the Official Secrets Act. The cancelled examination was rescheduled and conducted with enhanced security protocols. The CBI investigation has identified additional conspirators, and further arrests are expected.

The central dispute concerned the integrity of state recruitment processes and the failure of authorities to secure confidential examination material. Debate focused on whether the leak was a systemic failure involving senior officials, the role of private coaching mafias in institutionalized cheating, and the adequacy of cybersecurity measures to prevent digital dissemination of leaked papers.

The leak triggered violent student protests across Bihar, with demonstrators blocking highways and disrupting rail services for days. It eroded public trust in the state’s administrative recruitment system and intensified demands for a national-level law against examination malpractices. The case became a major political issue, leading to calls for the resignation of the state education minister. It also prompted the Union Public Service Commission to review its own security protocols for competitive examinations.