Karnataka Government Implements Strict Measures to Ensure Fairness in Upcoming KPPSC Exam

Bengaluru, November 12 (Daily Kiran) : The Karnataka government is taking stringent measures to ensure the integrity of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPPSC) exam scheduled for November 15. This decision follows a recent scandal involving the leaking of question papers and allegations of bribery related to the recruitment of veterinary officers in the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department.

With 147,067 candidates registered for the preliminary examination for 319 gazetted probationer positions, the government is leaving no stone unturned to prevent any irregularities. Enhanced security measures will include CCTV surveillance, the deployment of mobile jammers, and additional invigilators. Moreover, OMR sheets will be scanned and uploaded on the KPPSC website on the same day to promote transparency.

During a preparatory meeting, KPPSC Controller H. Prasanna outlined several reforms aimed at preventing malpractice and increasing transparency. Under the new five-option OMR system, candidates must mark the fifth bubble if they do not know the answer to a question, ensuring that no questions are left unanswered.

To further enhance transparency, three copies of the OMR sheets will be produced. One will be given to the candidate, another will be retained by KPPSC for evaluation, and the third will be securely stored either with the Deputy Commissioner or in the KPPSC strong room.

All examination halls will be equipped with CCTV cameras and mobile jammers. Police superintendents have been instructed to ensure the jammers are functioning properly. Each examination hall will have two invigilators responsible for verifying identification, conducting searches, and monitoring candidates from the back of the room.

In a significant move towards transparency, scanned copies of all OMR sheets will be uploaded to the KPPSC website on the exam day for public access. Arrangements are in place for scanning OMR sheets in 12 districts.

For future exams, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has directed the e-governance department to implement Aadhaar-based identity verification at examination centers to prevent impersonation. He also called for the establishment of OMR scanning centers in all district headquarters to expedite the processing and announcement of results.

Additionally, the Chief Minister has urged deputy commissioners to prioritize the issuance of caste validity certificates, which have previously delayed recruitment results. He emphasized that such delays are unacceptable.

This preliminary exam is set to fill 319 gazetted probationer positions, including 202 in Group ‘B’ and 117 in Group ‘A’. A total of 345 examination sub-centers have been established across various districts, including Kalaburagi, Raichur, and Bengaluru Urban.

The exam will consist of two papers: Paper-I, covering general studies and humanities, will take place from 10 AM to 12 PM, while Paper-II, focusing on state-related general studies, science, technology, and mental ability, will be held from 2 PM to 4 PM. Each paper will feature 100 questions, totaling 200 marks, leading to the scanning of 294,134 OMR sheets due to the two-paper format.

These strict measures come in response to the recent KPPSC recruitment scandal, where candidates allegedly paid bribes ranging from 2 to 8 million rupees for leaked question papers and manipulated merit lists. Several high-profile arrests have been made, including former KPPSC chairman Shivshankarappa Sahukar and other officials involved in the scandal.

With over 147,000 candidates participating in the upcoming exam, the Karnataka government aims to restore public trust in the recruitment process through rigorous oversight and transparency.