Patiala: A number of aspirants protested outside Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) headquarters in Patiala on Tuesday, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into alleged anomalies in the Punjab Civil Services Mains results and a fresh examination.hey also sought a stay on the selection process, publication of the names of paper evaluators and successful candidates, and greater transparency and accountability from PPSC. A memorandum was submitted to PPSC chairperson. Protesters rejected re-evaluation of answer sheets or a state vigilance inquiry, citing a lack of trust in state-led investigations.Aspirants alleged a “highly improbable” concentration of successful candidates from particular examination centres, clusters of consecutive roll numbers on the merit list and the inclusion of people reportedly marked absent during the examination.They also questioned the qualifications of paper evaluators and alleged that rules on the Class 10 Punjabi language requirement were changed during recruitment. The controversy followed PPSC’s declaration of the PCS Mains 2026 results on Nov 4, shortlisting 751 candidates for interviews against 331 advertised vacancies. Protesters claimed nearly 180 shortlisted candidates, or about 24%, had appeared at one centre and that 87 selected candidates were in 26 clusters of consecutive roll numbers.PPSC chairperson Maj Gen Vinayak Saini (retd) has already denied allegations of fraud on Nov 6, saying the figures were misinterpreted. He said the highest selection from one centre was 14%, or 106 of 751 candidates, consistent with normal patterns for a centre hosting 496 candidates. Only three of 179 classrooms had 10 or more qualifiers, he said.PPSC also rejected claims that absent candidates had passed, saying biometric and manual attendance, CCTV surveillance and mobile network jammers were used in every classroom. BJP MP Tarun Chugh asked Union home minister Amit Shah to initiate a CBI probe, while SAD and Congress leaders demanded an independent audit and a stay on the selection process.Govt has not announced an independent inquiry, while PPSC is proceeding with document scrutiny scheduled from Nov 11 to 17.
