The Naked Truth: army candidates write exam in their underwear

Last year, the images of students cheating during a school examination in Bihar had embarrassed the state government.

Here's that pic to jog your memory.

Now, another set of images have thrown the state back into the spotlight.

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These photographs show hundreds of youngsters writing their examination, dressed only in their briefs and sitting cross-legged on the ground.

Photo: Gopi Raman/Biharphoto.com

This has brought into question the army's way of conducting recruitment exams and the manner in which they ensure candidates don't cheat.

The one-hour test was conducted last Sunday in Muzaffarpur district. According to official sources, a total of 1,159 candidates appeared for the written test. Around 775 were in the general duty category, 211 candidates in clerical and 173 candidates had applied for posts in the technical category.

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Several media reports quoted candidates complaining of cold and discomfort, but they had no choice but to keep writing without clothes.

Photo: Gopi Raman/Biharphoto.com

Army authorities have explained, that candidates were asked to strip down to prevent cheating as frisking so many people was practically impossible. The army officials involved in conducting the examination have claimed they were only following the orders from their seniors. But this has not convinced many.

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Taking cognisance of media reports, the Patna High Court has sought the Defence Ministry's reply on the matter. The court will hear the case on 3 April.

According to news agency ANI, the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has asked the Army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag to provide an explanation.

Translated by Deepak Sharma

Edited by Anna Verghese

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