The Bihar School Examination Control Board (BSEB) that has conducted the Class 12 exams, has invited Class 12 Science, Arts and Commerce toppers to appear in an interview on 3 June after it was reported that the toppers lack even basic knowledge of their subjects. The state government has decided to conduct their interview and a special team will re-examine their answer sheets, officials said.

"The Bihar School Exam Committee of the education department has decided for the first time to conduct interview of the toppers of Class 12 exams. A committee of the education board will take their interview," an official of the board said.

Rubi Kumari, who has topped in the Class 12 (intermediate) Arts stream this year, did not know even about her own subjects. For her, political science is a subject that imparts information about cooking. Rubi, who has topped in the exams conducted by the BSEB, shocked and surprised all when she had told a local TV channel that one of her subjects was 'Prodical Science', instead of political science.

Rubi is also not aware about the subjects in her Class 12 exams. She said that Class 12 exams was of 600 marks but actually it was of 500 marks. She secured 444 out of 500 marks and became the Bihar Arts topper.

Similarly, Saurabh Sresth, who has topped in Class 12, did not have even the basic knowledge of science. He said that aluminium is an active element in response to a question. But when asked about sodium and electrons, he failed to reply.

"The strict measures against cheating, including CCTV cameras and prohibitory orders against unlawful assembly in conducting the exams in February this year, resulted in fall in pass percentage," a board official said.

By Premji