IMPHAL, Nov 10: The Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) has postponed two papers of the Civil Services Combined Competitive (Mains) Examination, 2022, after a last-minute printing error was discovered inside examination halls on Sunday.
According to an official clarification issued by Controller of Examination Kh. Lalmani Singh on November 9, the affected papers, Paper-IV (General Studies-III) and Paper-V (General Studies-IV) were initially scheduled for November 9 but will now be conducted on November 22, 2025.
The error came to light moments before the start of the examination, when invigilators unsealed the question paper packets and noticed that the headings did not match the content inside. The incident prompted immediate intervention by the Commission, leading to the suspension and rescheduling of the two papers to ensure fairness and integrity in the conduct of the exam.
MPSC attributed the mistake to a lapse at the secured printing press responsible for producing the question papers. The Commission clarified that due to strict confidentiality protocols, no MPSC official is authorized to inspect the question papers before they are opened in the exam hall — a safeguard designed to prevent leaks but one that also limits early detection of printing errors.
“The Commission deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to candidates and assures that necessary measures are being taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents,” the statement read. It also noted that the two-week delay would allow sufficient time for error-free reprinting and secure redistribution of the affected papers.
In its notice, MPSC emphasized that confidentiality remains its top priority, but warned the secured press involved to ensure stricter quality control in future printing operations.
