Madhya Pradesh cabinet defers proposal to rename PEB facing scam

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan deferred the proposal to change the name of Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) in the state cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan deferred the proposal to change the name of Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) in the state cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Government spokesperson Narottam Mishra said Chouhan said changing the name of the board through the cabinet may send wrong signals to people.

HT had published a story recently indicating that name of PEB could soon be changed as part of image makeover plan for the scam-tainted board.

Some ministers though expressed reservation over the government's move to change the name of the scam-riddled board saying that this would give the Opposition a chance to target the government once again.

Higher and technical education department had mooted a proposal to change the name of the Professional Examination Board to the MP Recruitment and Entrance Examination Board.

Change of name is not the only step being taken to let the PEB make a fresh beginning with clean slate; the PEB has already advertised in newspapers inviting designs for the new logo recently.

"The state government has been desperate to get rid of the infamy of the PEB scam denting its image. It is in this attempt that it wants to change the name of the board but the bigger question is what would change with the change of name," said state president of National Students' Union of India, Vivek Tripathi.

The PEB has been mired in controversies for the last several years over the admission and recruitment tests held by it, including the PMT from 2008 to 2013, pre-PG exam 2012, contractual teachers eligibility test 2011, Subedar and platoon commander test 2012, police constable test 2012, forest guard recruitment test 2013, data entry operator test 2012 and traffic constable recruitment test, 2012.