PSTET 2023: Candidates get question paper with 60% answered, re-exam soon without late fee

NEW DELHI: Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains today announced to re-conduct the Punjab State Teachers Eligibility Test (PSTET) after a major goof-up. The conducting body of PSTET 2023, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), yesterday distributed question papers with nearly 60 percent already answered.

The Punjab teachers’ eligibility test was scheduled on March 12. Over 1 lakh candidates appeared for the exam to qualify for teachers vacancies for Classes 6 to 8 in the state. The right answers in the social studies exam for over 50 questions were marked in bold, as per reports.

After reports on the irregularities surfaced, the education minister today said, “To maintain complete fairness in our examination process, a PS level probe has been ordered to look in to PSTET exam conducted by a third Party with A++ NAAC grade i.e. GNDU.Accountability will be fixed & those found guilty will be booked for criminal negligence.”

PSTET 2023 phase 2 exam will now be reconducted without any late fee, the minister said.

“In future, I have ordered my department to have a suitable clause for compensation in the MOU’s signed with third parties for compensation of the candidates in such a scenario. Why should candidates suffer?” he added.

Criticising the Punjab government for yet another “blunder” in a recruitment exam, Chairman All India Kissan Congress Sukhpal Singh Khaira said: “Approx 60% questions already answered in exam sheet of PSTET selection! This is gross injustice with meritorious candidates! The Congress party demands VB inquiry on the pattern of Naib Tehsildar scandal-Khaira.”

Utter failure of @harjotbains as EM to conduct selection of PSTET as 60% answers were already there in the exam sheet prior to the paper! This is a major blunder of @BhagwantMann govt after dinfamous Naib Tehsildar scandal! Harjot Bains should tender apology & fix responsibility pic.twitter.com/Q3vqpJrTg9

— Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) March 12, 2023

Meanwhile, candidates have also pointed out that the PSTET paper 1 was misprinted. "Please reconduct PSTET-1 also so that everybody can fairly give exams," a applicant tweeted.

This is PSTET -1 Which is Misprinted. How can students understand questions and give answer? Respected @harjotbains . Please reconduct PSTET-1 also so that everybody can fairly give exams pic.twitter.com/5ygAsTeX6u

— sukh (@itzsukhchainG) March 13, 2023