Archive · 25 Aug 2026
BPSC ‘Dogs Bark’ Remark Amid Bihar Protests Sparks Row
Students in Bihar are protesting about government recruitment exams.
During a press conference, BPSC official Rajesh Kumar Singh used a proverb about an elephant and barking dogs.
Some people thought he was calling the protesting students dogs.
Singh said he was only repeating a proverb and did not mean to hurt anyone.
Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav visited the protest site and demanded an apology.
BPSC also said it would keep negative marking in objective exams.
It said its exams would be held in two or more stages.
The Commission denied claims that a high-ranking candidate’s answer sheet had been manipulated.
Another group of PhD scholars agreed to pause its hunger strike after the Governor promised to consider its demands.
BPSC exam controller Rajesh Kumar Singh quoted a proverb about an elephant and barking dogs during a press conference on student protests.
Critics and social media users said the reference portrayed protesting students as dogs, while Singh said it was quoted out of context.
BPSC rejected demands to remove negative marking and confirmed that its examinations would be conducted in at least two stages.
The Commission denied allegations involving Hindi-medium candidates, score limits and the 70th BPSC mains Rank 3 answer sheet.
Tejashwi Yadav demanded an apology, while a separate PhD scholars’ protest group agreed to withdraw its hunger strike after talks with the Bihar Governor.
- Who
- Bihar Public Service Commission exam controller Rajesh Kumar Singh, protesting students, Tejashwi Yadav and, separately, PhD scholars represented by the All PhD Holders and Research Association.
- What
- A proverb quoted by Singh triggered allegations that he compared protesting students with barking dogs, amid disputes over BPSC examination policies and evaluation.
- When
- The controversy arose during a Monday press conference; Gardanibagh students had been protesting since August 18, while other student protests in several states were reported since July.
- Where
- The press conference concerned protests in Bihar, including the Gardanibagh protest site in Patna.
- Why
- Students were demanding changes related to BPSC examinations, including the TRE-4 pattern, negative marking and other recruitment and evaluation issues.
Protesters and Critics
BPSC and Exam Controller
Meaning of the proverb
Protesters and Critics
Critics and social media users interpreted the reference to barking dogs as an insult directed at protesting students. Tejashwi Yadav called the remark shameful and demanded an apology.
BPSC and Exam Controller
Rajesh Kumar Singh said he was quoting a proverb, that it was presented out of context, and that he did not intend to hurt any individual or group.
Negative marking
Protesters and Critics
Protesting aspirants demanded that negative marking be removed from objective BPSC examinations.
BPSC and Exam Controller
BPSC rejected the demand, arguing that negative marking applies equally to all candidates and that removing it could encourage guessing.
Examination and evaluation allegations
Protesters and Critics
Students and critics raised concerns about multi-stage examinations, Hindi-medium candidates, score limits and the answer sheet of the 70th BPSC mains Rank 3 candidate.
BPSC and Exam Controller
BPSC said the two-stage system was already decided, denied discrimination and a 60% marks ceiling, called the viral answer sheet fake, and said claims of wrongdoing could be taken to court.
- Official involved
- Rajesh Kumar Singh, examination controller of the Bihar Public Service Commission.
- Controversial proverb
- “Hathi chale bazaar, kutta bhaunke hazar,” translated as an elephant walking while a thousand dogs bark.
- BPSC position
- Negative marking will remain in objective examinations, and BPSC examinations will be conducted in at least two stages.
- Protest location
- Students have been protesting at Gardanibagh in Patna over several demands, including the proposed TRE-4 examination pattern.
- Official clarification
- Singh said the proverb was twisted and presented out of context, and expressed regret if anyone was hurt.
- 70th BPSC answer sheet
- BPSC called a viral copy allegedly showing a mostly blank Rank 3 answer sheet completely fake and displayed what it described as the original.
- TRE-4 schedule
- Applications are scheduled from September 1 to September 30; the examination may be held in December or January.
