Can Govt set up free hospitals for Hindus? Assam Class 10 social science paper sparks outrage

NEW DELHI: Assam State School Education Board (SEBA) has been facing backlash from netizens for asking a religion-based healthcare question in the Assam Class 10 social science exam 2025. Flooding the social media with screenshots of the Assam HSLC question paper, social media users raised concerns about secularism and asked “is it (the question) necessary?”

The state board commenced the Assam High School Leaving Certificate Examination (Assam HSLC) board exam 2025 on February 15 and will conduct the last exam on March 3. The practical exams for the Class 10 students were conducted on January 21 and 22.

The Assam HSLC Class 10 social science board exam 2025 was held on February 27 in the morning shift from 9 am to 12 noon.

Question number 57 of the HSLC paper presented a hypothetical scenario and asked the students for their opinion. The 3 mark question read: “Suppose, the government has set up a hospital in a village called Dambuk. The hospital provides free treatment to the Hindus. People of other religions have to bear the cost of treatment themselves. Can the government take such measures in a country like India? Give your opinion.”

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SEBA faces backlash

This hypothetical religion-based questions has sparked outrage among netizens. Abul Kashim wrote on X: “It's the Social Science Question paper in HSLC Examination of Assam. Is this a suitable question? Plz read the question and give your opinion.”

Another X user said: “The HSLC social science question paper is conceptual, unfamiliar, and comparatively difficult. However, students who thoroughly studied the book can easily score high marks. This shift in difficulty reflects the Assam government's implementation of the NEP.”

“Is this the kind of education we want for our students?” a journalist wrote on X: “Why are students being exposed to divisive hypotheticals instead of learning about the equality and secularism protected by our Constitution?”

While another social media user said: “Why make noise over a question paper when two bigger problems are being promoted. Illegal migrants being granted citizenship in Assam and Second land grab by Waqf Board.”