Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. Telegraph picture

Patna, April 30: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has been categorical in maintaining his stand that developing Bihar is his sole agenda. But that has not stopped people from other states from reposing their faith in his administrative qualities.

A resident from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh has written a letter to Nitish asking him to take up a cause which not only concerns the Hindi-speaking students of Bihar but also those of other states.

The matter pertains to the changes introduced in the civil services preliminary examination, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), from this year.

In response to the letter sent by Ram Manohar Mishra of Voraiya Udnapur village of Sitapur district in Uttar Pradesh, Nitish has written a letter to Union minister of state for personnel, public grievances and pension V. Narayanasamy, urging him not to include the “English language comprehensive skills” in the second paper of the preliminary test (PT) or revert to the old system in which the second paper used to be of optional subjects.

In accordance with the decision taken by the Centre, UPSC has introduced changes in the civil services PT examination from 2011.

In the changed system, while the general studies paper has been retained, the second paper has been replaced with a new paper which would have questions from comprehension, interpersonal skills, logical reasoning, decision making and problem solving, general mental ability, basic numeracy and English language comprehension skill.

Mishra in his letter to the Bihar chief minister had written that introduction of English language in the second paper would be detrimental to the interests of the Hindi-medium students of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and they would not be able to qualify for the main examination.

The letter also said that as none from ruling or Opposition parties has registered a protest over this move, hence as chief minister of a Hindi-speaking state, Nitish should lodge the protest.

Mishra would be a happy man, for the Bihar chief minister has not only raised the point in his letter with the Centre but has also explained reasons in details which may work to the disadvantage of Hindi-medium students in the PT.

The chief minister’s letter says that in an examination in which every single marks is of great importance, English-medium students will have an advantage over Hindi-medium students as the question paper would not have a Hindi version of the English language comprehension skills portion.

Nitish has concluded his letter expressing hope that while introducing changes in the examination pattern of the civil services, the interests of students from rural background would be taken care of.