Bihar Tests Its Toppers, But Political Science Whiz Cries Off

Patna: Ruby Rai, the Bihar Plus-Two topper who thought political science taught one the art of cooking, gave the state board's re-examination for toppers a miss today. A board official said she had sent in a note asking for more time, claiming she was ill.

But the board, which has been left red-faced by her revealing interviews, is not ready to relent.

This is an excuse and suitable action against will be taken against her, Lalkeswar Prasad, chairman of the Bihar examination board, told NDTV.

The comment of Ms Rai, who was supposed to have aced political science, was matched by the remarks of science topper Saurabh Kumar, who was unable to tell the relation between water and H2O.  Asked what was the most reactive element in the periodic table he replied "Aluminium".  The correct answer is Fluorine.

It was their comments to local television channels that virtually forced the government to hold a reexamination for the seven top rankers in the high school board exams today.  

In the test -- written and oral -- every student was asked five to six questions from each subject. Their handwriting samples were also taken so it could be matched with the answer scripts from the board exams.

All the students have claimed that they did not resort to any underhand means during the exam and whatever marks was given to them, was on the basis of the answer-sheets they submitted.

The results, which are expected on Saturday, is expected to reveal whether their claims are correct or not. The Board will submit a report on this to the Education Department, which is likely to make it public.

Education Minister Ashok Choudhary had conceded that it appears that either proxies had sat for the exams in place of the toppers, or the answer sheets submitted by the students were somehow substituted.

The officials said an inquiry is on, which will reveal the nexus of examiner and officials and how the fraud was carried out.