KPSC KAS Prelims Exam To Be Conducted Again After Translation Blunder

The preliminary exams for 350 Gazetted Probationary officer posts conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) on August 27 will be held again within the next two months. The decision comes after widespread backlash over poor translation of questions from English to Kannada, which confused many Kannada-medium students.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on social media platform X, stating, "Due to inappropriate Kannada translations in the KPSC Gazetted Probationers' examination, I have directed KPSC to re-conduct the exam within two months to ensure fairness for all candidates." He also mentioned that those responsible for the translation errors have been dismissed and promised that the upcoming exam would be conducted with greater accountability.

The KPSC faced severe criticism over the poor and erroneous translation of questions, with many alleging that the Commission used AI tools or Google Translate for the translations. Candidates complained that many questions were incomprehensible, significantly affecting the majority of examinees from Kannada-medium backgrounds.

The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) issued a notice to KPSC, questioning the translation quality. KPSC responded by denying the use of technology, clarifying that the translations were carried out by the Commission's designated translators. Key figures like KDA Chairman Purushottam Bilimale and Kannada Sahitya Akademi Chairman L. N. Mukundaraj voiced strong objections to the errors.

Social media users expressed their anger, trending hashtags like #KPSC_Mosa and #KASReExam. Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Priyank Kharge, had also raised the students' concerns with the Chief Minister, prompting a quick decision on the matter.

The August 27 exam was controversial even before it took place, with calls from some students for a postponement. However, the State Government proceeded with the exam as scheduled, further fueling the discontent.