Srinagar: In yet another shocking display of negligence, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has blundered in the Class 10th Social Studies examination, setting a multiple-choice question with no correct answer.
The mistake, which has left students frustrated and questioning the board’s credibility, exposes the deep-rooted non-seriousness of JKBOSE towards academic integrity.
The erroneous question asked students to identify the first president of the Indian National Congress (INC) and provided four incorrect options—A.O. Hume, Mahatma Gandhi, S.N. Banerjee, and Lala Lajpat Rai. None of these figures were the correct answer, as historical records confirm that Womesh Chandra Banerjee was the first president of INC in 1885.
This blunder is not just a minor oversight—it reflects the casual approach of JKBOSE towards the education system, where errors in crucial board examinations can impact the future of thousands of students. Such mistakes not only lead to unnecessary confusion but also raise concerns over the competence of the board in preparing question papers.
“This is unacceptable. How can a board responsible for shaping young minds make such a basic factual error? This is playing with the careers of students,” said a concerned parent from Srinagar.
A teacher from a reputed school in Srinagar remarked, “If students write the correct answer, they will lose marks. If they choose from the given options, they are forced to write an incorrect answer. Is this the kind of education JKBOSE is promoting?”
This is not the first time JKBOSE has found itself in controversy. In recent times the board has faced multiple allegations of mismanagement, including errors in textbooks, out-of-syllabus questions, and incorrect answer keys. Despite repeated promises of reform, such blunders continue to plague the examination system.
The incident has sparked outrage among students, parents, and educationists, with many demanding immediate accountability. “Will JKBOSE take responsibility and award grace marks, or will they again brush this under the carpet?” asked a student from Anantnag.(KNS)
