Thiruvananthapuram, August 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Kerala General Education Minister N. Shamsudheen has ordered an inquiry into a controversial quiz question in Kasaragod that described V.D. Savarkar as a freedom fighter and directed officials to initiate stringent action against those found responsible.
The Minister instructed the Director of General Education to identify those involved in preparing and approving the question paper and take appropriate action. He clarified that the quiz was not part of the official activity calendar of either the Social Science Club or the Education Department.
The disputed question appeared in the tie-breaker section of the quiz paper, which was used only in Kumbla and Manjeshwar. Schools falling under the Kasaragod education district did not use the tie-breaker section.
The question asked students to identify the freedom fighter who had received the longest punishment from the British, with Savarkar indicated as the answer. The quiz was not multiple-choice and participants were required to write their responses.
The Education Department is also examining whether artificial intelligence was used in preparing the question paper. A senior department official said the quiz had been organised at the school level and was not conducted by the department.
The issue has triggered a political controversy in the state. Left-affiliated student organisations have accused the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government of promoting what they described as a Sangh Parivar agenda.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) alleged that the question was an attempt to portray Savarkar, a Hindutva ideologue and a figure named in the conspiracy case surrounding Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, as a freedom fighter.
The Muslim Students’ Federation (MSF) has filed a complaint over the question, while the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) organised a march to the District Education Office seeking action.
SFI leaders also criticised the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key UDF ally, accusing it of maintaining what they termed double standards on issues concerning the Sangh Parivar.
With a formal inquiry now ordered, the Education Department is expected to establish who prepared the disputed question paper, how it was circulated and whether any disciplinary action is warranted.
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