The University Grants Commission (UGC) sought a report from the Sharda University about an "objectionable" question asked by it in an exam on similarities between Hindutva and fascism.
The higher education regulator has asked the Greater Noida-based private university to explain in the detailed action-taken report the steps taken by it to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.
"It has been noticed that the students objected to the question and filed a complaint with the university. Needless to say that asking students such a question is against the spirit and ethos of our country, which is known for inclusivity and homogeneity and such questions have not been asked," the UGC said in a communication to the Sharda University.
The Political Science (Honours) question in the BA first-year paper asked the students about "Hindutva-Fascism". The question carrying seven marks read, "Do you find any similarities between Fascism/Nazism and Hindu right-wing (Hindutva)? Elaborate with arguments." After the question paper went viral on social media platforms, the university formed a three-member committee to "look into the possibility of bias in the questions".
In a statement issued on Saturday, it said the committee has found the question objectionable and for the purpose of evaluation, it may be ignored by the evaluators.
The university has also issued a show-cause notice to the faculty member who had set the question paper.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently dropped a comprehension passage and the accompanying questions from the Class-10 English exam paper and decided to award full marks for it to students, following an outrage over the board allegedly promoting "gender stereotyping" and supporting "regressive notions".
CBSE had referred the matter to subject experts on Sunday and sought their feedback after the English question paper for Class 10 raised more questions than answers.
One of the several questions that are now under the scanner is a comprehension passage that many said was promoting "gender stereotyping" and supporting "regressive notions".
A post was shared on Reddit recently which appeared to be a Mathematical problem that questions the "probability of finding a fair-skinned girl."
The calculation was on probability and the contents of the question mentioned situations like - "A man wants to marry a girl having qualities: White complexion - the probability of getting such a girl is 1/20; handsome dowry - the probability of getting this is 1/50...."
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