The Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission’s (JSSC) Field Worker Recruitment Examination has landed in controversy after several candidates and members of the Santhal community informed that a large portion of the Santhali language paper was far beyond the syllabus. They have demanded that the examination be conducted again, claiming the paper included questions of the standard of the UPSC Civil Services Examination and the UGC-NET instead of the notified Matric-level syllabus.
The examination was held on 19th July to recruit candidates for 510 Field Worker posts. It had already attracted criticism over low attendance, examination centres being allotted at distant locations and complaints from candidates that they received delayed email intimation about their admit cards. The latest allegations have further intensified the controversy.
Candidates claimed nearly 40% questions were outside the syllabus
According to a report by The Indian Express, Several candidates claimed that almost 40% of the questions in the Santhali language paper did not match the syllabus mentioned in the recruitment notification. According to them, the notification had clearly stated that the examination would be based on the Class 10 (Matric) level, but many questions were much more difficult.
Candidates also said that some questions were completely unrelated to the Santhali language syllabus. For example, one question asked for the Sanskrit translation of the word “Mahua”, while another asked about the origin of the word “Hindi”. They argued that such questions had no relevance in a Santhali language paper meant for Matric-level candidates.
Students say paper resembled UPSC and UGC-NET
Harish Marandi, a student from Bokaro and secretary of the Jharkhand Santhal Student Union, alleged that nearly 40% of the paper was outside the prescribed syllabus.
“Although the recruitment notification mentioned a Matric-level syllabus, several questions were similar to the standard of the UPSC Civil Services Examination and the UGC-NET. Four questions also contained errors either in the question itself or in the answer options. We have submitted memoranda to the state government seeking a re-examination,” he said.
Another candidate, Gopal Hansda from Giridih, said he was among those who met JSSC officials after the examination. According to him, several questions asked about the lives and works of writers who are not part of the Matric-level syllabus.
“Our objection is not to the answer key but to the questions themselves. The moment we saw the paper, we realised that several questions were beyond the prescribed syllabus,” Hansda said. He added that JSSC officials advised candidates to wait for the answer key and then submit formal objections.
He further said, “Questions were not even at the level of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC)… they have reached the UPSC level. If random questions had to be asked, then why did the notification mention a Matric-level syllabus?”
Kishore Murmu, a candidate from Dhanbad, also alleged that candidates had prepared according to the notified syllabus but many expected topics from the Santhali language and literature were missing.
“There are 33 tribal communities in Jharkhand. They all have their own languages, and candidates from those languages have not raised such issues. However, the Santhali language paper was extremely tough,” he claimed, adding that it could put Santhal candidates at a disadvantage.
JSSC asks candidates to wait for answer key
Responding to the allegations, JSSC Secretary Sudhir Gupta said candidates should not panic and assured that all objections would be examined after the provisional answer key is released.
“Candidates may lodge complaints with evidence after the JSSC publishes the first answer key. There is no need to worry… all objections will be verified and addressed,” Gupta said.
With candidates continuing to raise concerns over the difficulty level and relevance of the questions, many from the Santhal community are now demanding a fresh examination, arguing that the paper did not follow the syllabus notified by the commission.
