Uproar over Mumbai bus conductor exam; questions asked about noble gases and fatty acids

Questions regarding noble gases and fatty acids baffled candidates during the Mumbai bus conductor recruitment exam, raising concerns about the paper's standard. Here is the full story.

Candidates preparing for government jobs usually expect questions relevant to the specific role; however, following the Mumbai bus conductor recruitment exam, many candidates objected to the nature of the question paper. They were surprised to find questions on science, history, English, and mathematics in a test meant for a job that involves issuing tickets and managing passengers.

A written examination was conducted to recruit 367 bus conductors for Mumbai's BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) service, with over 13,000 candidates participating. Test-takers had expected priority to be given to questions concerning passenger management, ticket issuance, and daily operational tasks. Instead, according to the candidates, the paper included questions on general science and other academic subjects.

What kind of questions were asked?

In the Mumbai bus conductor exam, candidates were asked to identify which element—hydrogen, helium, oxygen, or carbon—is a noble gas. Another question required them to select the best source of Omega-3 fatty acids from options including milk, fruit, chicken, and mutton. Additionally, questions related to English vocabulary and idioms also became a topic of discussion.

History and mathematics questions also caused trouble

Candidate grievances were not limited to science and English; the question paper also included history questions related to the freedom movement. One question asked which movement Shaukat Ali was associated with, offering options such as the Swadeshi Movement, the Chauri-Chaura incident, the Khilafat Movement, and the Kakori Conspiracy. Candidates also reported difficulties with some of the mathematics questions. According to them, questions involving fractions, decimals, and complex calculations made the paper more challenging than anticipated. Many candidates felt it was difficult to see a direct link between such questions and the day-to-day responsibilities of a bus conductor. Securing 50 percent marks in the exam was mandatory.

What concerns were raised regarding the recruitment exam?

Many candidates questioned why the bus conductor recruitment exam included topics that had no direct relevance to the job. They argued that the difficulty level and the selection of questions should align with the actual requirements of the post.