For Prelims: JPSC (Jharkhand Public Service Commission), OMR Sheet (Optical Mark Recognition), CID (Criminal Investigation Department), Exam Involved, Investigating Agency, Key Evidence Type, Number of Candidates Named, Key Accused
For Mains: OMR tampering, examination integrity, state public service commission, recruitment fraud, CID investigation
Source:
Hindustan
Dainik Bhaskar
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- JPSC 14th Civil Services Examination was investigated by CID Jharkhand.
- Six candidates were found with OMR sheet tampering evidence.
- CCTV footage showed candidates solving 30-40 questions but OMR sheets had 90-100 answers.
- Accused Budheshwar Bhagat's laptop had a list of selected candidates.
- Candidates refused to provide carbon copies of their OMR sheets.
Why in the news?
CID investigation into the JPSC 14th Civil Services Examination has uncovered systematic OMR sheet tampering. CCTV footage shows candidates solving far fewer questions than what was later recorded on their OMR sheets, indicating post-exam manipulation of answer sheets by accused persons.
Summary
- CID investigation of JPSC 14th Civil Services Exam found six candidates whose CCTV activity showed far fewer answers than recorded on their OMR sheets.
- Accused Budheshwar Bhagat's laptop contained a list of selected candidates that matched the tampered OMR sheets.
- Candidates refused to produce carbon copies of their OMR sheets, claiming they were lost or handed to touts.
Highlights
OMR Sheet Tampering
CCTV footage shows candidates solving 30-40 questions, but their OMR sheets recorded 90-100 correct answers, proving post-exam manipulation.
Laptop Evidence
Accused Budheshwar Bhagat's laptop contained a list of selected candidates, matching the six candidates whose OMR sheets were tampered.
Carbon Copy Refusal
All six candidates refused to provide their carbon copies of OMR sheets, claiming they were missing or handed to touts.
Background
The JPSC (Jharkhand Public Service Commission) 14th Civil Services Examination has been under scrutiny for irregularities. CID was tasked with investigating allegations of malpractice, including OMR sheet tampering and involvement of touts.
Key Analysis and Impact
The CID's evidence is damning. For example, candidate Om Prakash Rana was not seen filling any answers on CCTV but his OMR sheet had 91/100 in Paper 1 and 92/100 in Paper 2. This pattern across six candidates shows a coordinated fraud. The laptop list from Budheshwar Bhagat directly links the accused to the beneficiaries. This undermines the credibility of the JPSC examination process and raises questions about the integrity of public service recruitment in Jharkhand.
Way Forward
The CID findings will likely lead to legal action against the six candidates and the accused. The JPSC may need to review its examination security protocols, including better CCTV monitoring, secure OMR sheet handling, and stricter carbon copy verification. A re-examination or cancellation of results for affected candidates is possible.
Jharkhand connection
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- JPSC (Jharkhand Public Service Commission)
- A constitutional body under Article 315 that conducts civil services examinations for recruitment to state services in Jharkhand.
- OMR Sheet (Optical Mark Recognition)
- A sheet with pre-printed bubbles that candidates fill in to mark answers. It is scanned and evaluated by a machine.
- CID (Criminal Investigation Department)
- A specialized police unit in Indian states that investigates complex and serious crimes, often under state government directive.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: JPSC 14th Civil Services Exam; six candidates identified; OMR tampering evidence from CCTV
- Nodal Body: Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC)
Don't make this mistake!
The examiner may ask about the investigating agency (CID) but could confuse it with CBI. Remember: CID is a state-level police unit, while CBI is a central agency. Also, note that the exam is JPSC 14th, not 15th or 16th.
Write these in mains answers
- OMR tampering, examination integrity, state public service commission, recruitment fraud, CID investigation
Stuck? Get it in one tap
The CID investigated the JPSC exam and found that some candidates cheated. On CCTV, they were seen solving only a few questions, but their answer sheets had many more correct answers filled in. This means someone filled in the answers after the exam. The police have evidence from a laptop and from the candidates themselves.
- JPSC 14th Civil Services Examination was investigated by CID Jharkhand.
- Six candidates were found with OMR sheet tampering evidence.
- CCTV footage showed candidates solving 30-40 questions but OMR sheets had 90-100 answers.
- Accused Budheshwar Bhagat's laptop had a list of selected candidates.
- Candidates refused to provide carbon copies of their OMR sheets.
- Polity: State Public Service Commissions
- Governance: Transparency and Accountability in Recruitment
Related concepts: JPSC (Jharkhand Public Service Commission), OMR Sheet (Optical Mark Recognition), CID (Criminal Investigation Department)
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which state-level body conducts the civil services examination in which a CID probe found OMR sheet tampering?
Explanation: The tampering was found in the 14th Civil Services Examination of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC). BPSC, UPPSC, and MPPSC are for other states.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements:
- 1.CID investigation found that candidates solved more questions on CCTV than recorded on their OMR sheets.
- 2.Accused Budheshwar Bhagat's laptop contained a list of selected candidates.
- 3.All six candidates provided their carbon copies of OMR sheets to CID.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because candidates solved fewer questions on CCTV (30-40) than recorded on OMR sheets (90-100). Statement 2 is correct: Budheshwar's laptop had a list of selected candidates. Statement 3 is incorrect: candidates refused to provide carbon copies. Hence option B is correct.
- Q3Medium
According to the CID investigation, how many candidates were found with discrepancies between CCTV footage and OMR sheet answers?
Explanation: Six candidates are named in the case: Om Prakash Rana, Dilip Kumar Rana, Vandana Kumari, Umakant Oraon, Manoj Kumar, and Roshan Kerketta. Four, five, and seven are incorrect as they do not match the count given.
- Q4Medium
What is the most significant implication of the CID findings for the JPSC examination process?
Explanation: The tampering occurred after the exam, as OMR sheets were manipulated. Better CCTV monitoring and secure handling of OMR sheets can prevent such fraud. Increasing centers, changing syllabus, or reducing candidates do not address the core issue of post-exam manipulation.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the JPSC 14th Civil Services Examination?
It is the 14th edition of the state civil services examination conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission for recruitment to various state government posts.
2. What did the CID investigation find about OMR sheets?
CID found that six candidates had far more answers recorded on their OMR sheets than they were seen solving on CCTV footage, indicating post-exam tampering.
3. Who is the key accused in the JPSC OMR tampering case?
Budheshwar Bhagat is a key accused, and his laptop contained a list of selected candidates that matched the tampered OMR sheets.
All sources
- Original8 November 2026 · Read story
- Merged8 November 2026 · Read story
