UP CM takes strong stance on ‘Pandit’ option for ‘opportunist’ question in UPPRPB exam, says no disrespectful remarks on faith and dignity will be tolerated, probe ordered

The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered an immediate probe into a controversial question in the Sub-Inspector (Civil Police) recruitment examination after it listed “Pandit” as an option for describing an opportunist. Responding to the controversy over the question, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued directives to the chairpersons of all recruitment boards to maintain the dignity and sensitivity of the examination process.

The controversy erupted from a Hindi-language question in the exam conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB) on March 14, 2026. The question asked: ‘Who is a person who changes according to opportunity, and he four options provided were, Pandit, Avsarvadi (Opportunist), Nishkapat (Innocent), and Sadachari (Virtuous).

While “Avsarvadi” was the intended correct answer, the inclusion of “Pandit”, a term of respect traditionally linked to Brahmin scholars and religious knowledge, sparked outrage for allegedly hurting community sentiments and equating a revered title with negative opportunism. This caused a massive outrage on social media.

Uttar Pradesh BJP secretary Abhijat Mishra had earlier written to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanding action, noting that the option was “incorrectly framed” and insensitive.

As per a post on X on the CM’s office, the CM made it clear that no disrespectful remarks will be tolerated regarding the faith and dignity of any individual, caste, sect, or community. In this regard, clear guidelines should also be provided to all paper setters, and such habitual offenders should be immediately banned.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed all recruitment boards to issue strict guidelines to paper setters against any questions that could hurt religious or community sentiments, with provisions for debarment of repeat offenders incorporated into future MoUs.

A day earlier on 14th March, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that instructions have been issued for an immediate investigation into the entire matter. He posted on X, “We have strong objections to the options provided for a question that appeared in the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment Examination. The government has taken note of this matter with utmost seriousness. It is absolutely unacceptable for any question to hurt the dignity of any society or class. I want to say clearly that no place should be given to derogatory words against any caste, community, or tradition. Instructions have been issued for an immediate investigation into the entire matter. Strict action will be taken against the responsible individuals.”

In the meanwhile, the UPPRPB clarified that it does not set the papers itself; they are prepared by external confidential agencies to maintain secrecy, and sealed packets are opened only at exam centres.

In a post on X, the board stated, “the question papers are not set by the Police Recruitment Board itself at the local level. Rather, this task is carried out by highly confidential institutions in such a manner that the confidentiality of the question papers remains intact prior to the examination. To maintain this confidentiality, even at the Board level, no officer or employee is allowed to view the confidential material, i.e., the question papers.”

The further added, “The sealed packets of question papers are opened for the first time in the examination halls at the examination centres in the presence of two candidates and then distributed.”

The board added that an investigation has been ordered regarding the question. “Upon completion of the investigation, culpability will be determined, and action will be ensured against those responsible,” the UPPRPB added.

Notably, the issue erupted just weeks after controversy over the Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat, as the Supreme Court had directed the makers to change the title for denigrating a community.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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