Repeated questions in DU's PhD, MPhil exam irk examinees

After nearly one-fourth of questions in the entrance exam for MPhil in Buddhist Studies were repeated in the entrance exam for PhD in the same course, which took place later in the day, candidates raised protests against Delhi University and its Department of Buddhist Studies on Friday.

"We demand the suspension of the HoD (Head of the Department)" read a banner in front of Faculty of Arts on Friday, with several students sitting on a hunger strike since Wednesday demanding that the University conduct both the exams once again.

The agitating aspirants accused professor K T S Sarao, the HoD, for the goof up. "We demand that the University set up a panel and inquire the matter," said Ashish, one of the protestors.

Asked about the mix up, Prof Sarao stated that 35 of the 50 questions were indeed similar.

"Taking any action over the entire mismanagement is out of my jurisdiction," said Prof Sarao, adding that the final decision will be taken only by the varsity.

"In our department, admissions take place on the basis of a written exam, as well as interview. The University can evaluate the performance on the basis of the remaining 15 questions and then conduct interview. Or they might take re-exam of the candidates," he added.

Explaining the possible reason that led to the mix up in the question papers, professor Sarao said: "We prepare two sets of each paper and the University decides which will be used. The question paper is selected randomly and the chosen ones had similar questions. This was not done intentionally."