Bhubaneswar: Recent competitive examinations conducted by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) and the Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) for prestigious state government positions have been marred by significant errors in their question papers, leaving candidates deeply concerned about the fairness and credibility of the selection processes.
The Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Main Examination 2023, a crucial gateway to top administrative roles, witnessed a major gaffe when candidates appearing for Anthropology Paper-I discovered questions intended for Paper-II were mistakenly included. The OPSC has since acknowledged the error. However, despite the clear anomaly, the commission proceeded with the examination, leaving the fate of Paper-II questions hanging in the balance. This decision has triggered widespread frustration and anxiety among aspirants who fear it could unfairly impact their performance and overall ranking.
Adding to the woes of job seekers, the OSSC Combined Recruitment Main Examination also suffered a severe setback. Candidates who appeared for this examination were dismayed to find crucial sections of the syllabus, including English, Odia Literature, and General Knowledge, completely absent from the question paper. This significant omission has raised serious questions about the OSSC’s preparedness and quality control measures in conducting such large-scale recruitment drives.
The OSSC has since issued a statement expressing regret for the oversight and has hinted at the possibility of conducting fresh examinations to rectify the situation. In a move to gather feedback and potentially shape the way forward, the commission has urged affected candidates to share their valuable suggestions via email by May 4th.
These back-to-back incidents of question paper errors have ignited a wave of discontent among candidates. Many are questioning the competence and accountability of the OPSC and OSSC, the very bodies entrusted with selecting the future workforce of the state. Aspirants have voiced their concerns over the immense pressure and preparation they undergo for these competitive exams, only to be met with such fundamental errors that jeopardize their chances.
“It is disheartening and unacceptable,” said an OCS Main examinee, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We dedicate months, even years, to prepare for these exams. To find such a blatant error in the question paper shakes our faith in the entire system.”
Similarly, candidates who appeared for the OSSC Combined Recruitment Main Exam expressed their shock and disappointment. “How can such important subjects be missing from the question paper?” questioned one candidate. “It shows a complete lack of seriousness. Conducting fresh exams is the only fair solution.”
The anomalies have prompted demands for thorough investigations into the lapses and calls for stringent measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Candidates are urging both commissions to take immediate corrective action, ensure transparency in their decision-making processes, and safeguard the integrity of the recruitment examinations. The coming days are crucial as candidates await decisions from both the OPSC and OSSC that will significantly impact their career aspirations and the future of public service recruitment in Odisha.