BHUBANESWAR: In the wake of detection of irregularities in the OSSC and OPSC examinations, the Odisha government on Monday announced that a thorough probe would be conducted into the lapses and strict action will be taken against those found responsible.
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said the departments associated with the conduct of these examinations would carry out thorough investigations into the lapses.
Stressing that the government has got a Bill passed in the Assembly to ensure stricter measures against examination-related discrepancies, the Minister said anyone found guilty will face strict action as per the law.
Widespread outrage erupted after errors were found in both the OSSC and OPSC exams held on Sunday.
In the case of the Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) exam for the posts of Excise Sub-Inspector and Traffic Sub-Inspector, candidates were reportedly found that the questions were from the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination.
As most candidates had prepared according to the prescribed syllabus focusing on Odia, English, and General Knowledge, they were shocked to find Arithmetic questions instead. The error triggered disappointment among the aspirants.
Similarly, the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) came under criticism during the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) 2023 Main Examination. In the first sitting of the optional Anthropology Paper-I, questions meant for Paper-II were mistakenly given. Conversely, during the second sitting meant for Anthropology Paper-II, candidates received questions from Paper-I.
This gaffe led to widespread outrage as aspirants have raised concerns about the fairness of the evaluation process.
Both incidents have sparked strong reactions among candidates and the broader public, raising serious questions about the preparedness and management of the recruitment examinations by reputed state agencies like OSSC and OPSC.
Angry over the error, a delegation of aspirants submitted a memorandum to OSSC, demanding immediate cancellation of the examination and a fresh re-conduct. They argued that the integrity of the recruitment process had been compromised and that continuing with the flawed exam would affect their careers.
The Minister asserted that the government was committed to transparency and fairness in competitive examinations.
Suraj said any negligence or carelessness in their conduct is unacceptable. “Those found responsible will be held accountable after a thorough departmental probe,” the Minister said.
The incident has triggered widespread resentment among student groups and civil society organisations amid demand for immediate corrective measures and reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.
OPSC clarifies
Meanwhile, the OPSC in a notification said, “ In continuation to this Office Notice No. 7404/C/PSC, Dt- 27.04.2025, it is for information of all the candidates appearing Anthropology Optional Papers that, after opening of the Question-cum- Answer Booklet Packets of Anthropology, Optional Paper-II in the Examination Halls in the 2nd session on 27.04.2025, the Written Examination of Anthropology, Optional Paper-II shall continue as such and the concerned candidates have already been instructed to appear the Optional Paper as the Question-cum- Answer Booklet of Anthropology, Paper-II contains questions from the Syllabus of Anthropology, Paper-I.”