MPSC's comedy of error : Evening question paper given in morning session Finger pointed at printing press

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 9 : Confusion and frustration reigned over the Manipur Civil Services Combined Competitive (Mains) Examination (MCSCCE) 2022, conducted by the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) today, as candidates received a wrong question paper, compelling the rescheduling of the day's exam.
The final day of the MCSCCE (Mains) Examination was scheduled today, featuring two sessions: Paper-IV (General Studies-III) on Economics, Science and Technology, and Internal Security from 9 am to 12 noon, followed by Paper-V (General Studies-IV) on Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude from 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm.
However, upon distribution of the Paper-IV question paper, candidates discovered that while the cover page correctly stated "Paper-IV," the contents inside were those of Paper-V, triggering widespread confusion.
The incident has sparked serious concerns about the MPSC's operational competence.
The MPSC has acknowledged the grave error and rescheduled both Paper-IV (General Studies-III) and Paper-V (General Studies-IV) on November 22, 2025.
Paper-IV will now be held from 9 am to 12 noon on November 22, while Paper-V will follow from 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm on the same day.
Despite the rescheduling, the setback is irreversible as one candidate lamented, "We prepared so much, and this happens."
Notably, the MCSCCE 2022 Preliminary Examination was held in 2022, with results declared on May 28, 2024. The Mains Examination commenced on Novem- ber 7, 2025 after a postponement simultaneously in Imphal and Guwahati.
The rescheduling of today’s papers has caused not only emotional distress but also substantial financial losses, especially for the candidates appearing in Guwahati.
"Why must candidates bear the consequences of the examination conducting body’s errors?" asked a candidate who wished not to be named.
The Commission (MPSC) said that the wrong question paper was distributed due to "an error of the  Secured Printing Press."
MPSC has issued a clarification regarding rescheduling of the Paper-IV and  Paper-IV.
In the clarification signed by its  Controller of Examination Kh Lalmani Singh, the Commission said that there was a mismatch between the heading of the Question Paper for Paper-IV (General Studies-III) with the content inside due to an error of the Secured Printing Press.
The Commission said that the error could not be detected earlier because no official from the MPSC is allowed to see the question papers to keep full confidentiality  and the question paper is opened only in front of the candidates in the examination hall.
"It is the endeavour of the MPSC to keep full confidentiality even at the risk of being not able to detect errors in the printing of the question papers as confidentiality is paramount," it said.