In a surprising mistake, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has once again made a major blunder in the Class 10th Social Studies exam by including a multiple-choice question with no correct answer. This error has caused frustration among students and sparked renewed concerns about the board’s credibility and its commitment to maintaining academic integrity.
The Error That Sparked Outrage
The controversial question asked students to identify the first president of the Indian National Congress (INC). However, the four answer choices—A.O. Hume, Mahatma Gandhi, S.N. Banerjee, and Lala Lajpat Rai—were all incorrect.
Historical records confirm that Womesh Chandra Banerjee was the first president of INC in 1885, a fact that JKBOSE seemingly overlooked.
Students & Educators Express Frustration
This blunder is more than just a minor mistake—it reflects a lack of seriousness in setting question papers, potentially affecting the academic future of thousands of students.
A concerned parent from Srinagar expressed outrage:
“How can a board responsible for shaping young minds make such a basic factual error? This is playing with students’ careers.”
Teachers have also voiced their concerns. A senior teacher from a reputed Srinagar school stated:
“If students write the correct answer, they will lose marks. If they choose from the given options, they are forced to give an incorrect answer. Is this the quality of education JKBOSE is promoting?”
Not JKBOSE’s First Controversy
This is not the first time JKBOSE has come under scrutiny. The board has previously been criticized for:
- Errors in textbooks
- Out-of-syllabus questions in board exams
- Incorrect answer keys
- Poor exam management
Despite repeated assurances of reform, such mistakes continue to undermine the examination system.
Will JKBOSE Take Responsibility?
The incident has triggered widespread demands for accountability, with students and parents urging JKBOSE to award grace marks for the flawed question.
“Will JKBOSE acknowledge its mistake and compensate students, or will they once again ignore the issue?” asked a frustrated student from Anantnag.
With growing criticism, all eyes are now on JKBOSE’s response. Will they take corrective action, or will this be yet another case of errors being brushed under the rug?
