Question on Kashmir in the Madhya Pradesh Civil Service Exam sparks controversy

An objectionable question on Kashmir from the set of an examination held on Sunday in the state of Madhya Pradesh drew widespread criticism.

The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) blacklisted two experts and ordered an investigation after a question in a state civil services preliminary exam paper about whether Kashmir should be handed over to Pakistan to save India “a lot of money” sparked a debate.

On Sunday, the paper went viral on social media, causing outrage. According to the answer key, the second choice, that the region should not be handed over because it will encourage secession, is correct.

The MPPSC question paper that was leaked on the internet included a multiple-choice question that asked, “Should Kashmir be handed over to Pakistan?” According to news reports, the students who took the exam found the options confusing and many were unable to respond.

On the MP Civil Services question paper, there were two options:

• Yes, because it will benefit India’s economic situation.
• No, because it will increase the administration’s demand in Pakistan.