Bhubaneswar: In a significant step to prevent irregularities and ensure transparency in recruitment tests, the Odisha government has issued detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the conduct of competitive examinations.
As per the new guidelines, adequate safeguards will be adopted for printing, distribution, administration, and evaluation of examination materials, while both online and offline exams will be conducted under strict vigil.
It has been decided that question papers will be printed only in government-approved presses under the physical supervision of senior officials, including a senior Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer, a senior police officer, and another department official.
Additional Chief Secretary of the General Administration and Public Grievance Department, Surendra Kumar has issued a comprehensive directive to all recruitment agencies and district collectors in this regard. Detailed guidelines have also been circulated for the conduct of recruitment exams across departments.
Significantly, all recruitment tests will be held in government colleges and universities. A dedicated printing press unit will be set up to handle the printing of question papers, with senior government officials overseeing the process from printing to transportation and delivery at examination centres.
Strict security protocols will be followed, including sealing question papers on both sides and deploying senior OAS officers, police officials, and other department representatives for secure transport. For Odisha Police recruitments, an IG-rank officer will be in charge.
For effective surveillance, Artificial Intelligence will be used to monitor exams at different centres. CCTV live-streaming will be monitored by the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) or the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The Integrated Command & Control Centre will oversee operations to ensure efficiency and accountability.
In case of online examinations, multifactor authentication will be mandatory, and the opening of question papers will be video-graphed. No external items will be allowed inside test centres, while systems, internet connectivity, and technical infrastructure will be checked in advance.
No outsourcing agency will be allowed to conduct recruitment examinations as part of measures to prevent any form of malpractice in online as well as offline tests.