Bhubaneswar: Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj today pledged that the state government will take stringent action against those responsible for the significant irregularities detected in the recently conducted Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) and Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) examinations.
Speaking to Media Men, Minister Shri Suraj emphasized that comprehensive investigations into the lapses will be carried out by the concerned departments. He reiterated the state government’s commitment to ensuring fairness and transparency in the examination process, referencing the recently passed bill in the Assembly aimed at enforcing stricter measures against such discrepancies.
“Those found guilty during the probe will face strict action as per the law,” the Minister assured.
The controversy stems from glaring errors discovered in examinations held on Sunday. In the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Main Examination 2023, candidates appearing for Anthropology Paper-I were shocked to find questions from Paper-II included in their question booklet. The OPSC acknowledged the error but proceeded with the examination, leaving the fate of Paper-II questions uncertain and causing widespread anxiety among aspirants.
The OPSC released a public notice confirming the error, stating, “The Question cum- Answer Booklet of Anthropology, Paper-I contains questions from the Syllabus of Anthropology, Paper-II.” The commission further stated, “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.” They also added a final decision regarding the paper would be made after the second session in which paper 2 was to be given.
Adding to the concerns, the OSSC Combined Recruitment Main Examination also faced severe issues. Candidates reported that crucial sections of the syllabus, including English, Odia Literature, and General Knowledge, were missing from the question paper. This omission has raised serious questions about the OSSC’s preparation and quality control.
The OSSC has since expressed regret for the oversight and indicated a possible re-examination. The commission has also requested feedback from affected candidates, asking them to submit their suggestions via email by May 4th, to help shape the next steps.
The Minister’s assurance of strict action comes amid growing demands for accountability and measures to prevent similar errors in the future, ensuring the integrity of the state’s recruitment processes.