Kolkata, 07 September (H.S.): For the first time since the alleged 2016 SSC recruitment scam, a “clean” and transparent examination is set to be held on Sunday in West Bengal. The state government and the School Service Commission (SSC) have undertaken extensive preparations to ensure fairness in the process, with 3,19,919 candidates expected to appear.
On Saturday at 4 pm, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant chaired a review meeting with all district magistrates and police officials at the state secretariat. Clear directives were issued for smooth conduct of the exam. Pant emphasized strict adherence to guidelines, assuring that the administration will remain vigilant from roads to exam centres. SSC Chairman and senior officials from the School Education Department were also present at the meeting.
According to sources, additional district magistrates have been assigned to oversee exam operations in each district, while deputy magistrates will be deployed at examination centres. The transport department has been instructed to increase the number of buses, and railway authorities have been requested to arrange adequate local train services.
To assist candidates, the SSC has set up a control room from 8 am on Sunday, along with similar arrangements at regional offices. The Education Department will operate its own control room from 10 am. Education Minister Bratya Basu extended wishes to candidates through his social media handle, assuring that security and transparency would be maintained across 636 centres.
SSC Chairman Siddhartha Majumdar announced at a press conference that the exam will commence at 12 noon. Entry will be allowed from 10 am and close strictly at 11:45 am, the same time when question papers will be distributed. All candidates will undergo frisking through metal detectors. Mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, opaque water bottles and pens will be barred. Specially-abled candidates will be given an extra 30 minutes.
The Commission has claimed that each question paper will carry unique security features. Admit cards will be scanned at centres, and no candidate will be allowed to leave until the exam concludes. Learning from 2016, when OMR sheet tampering was alleged, candidates will this time be allowed to take home a carbon copy of their OMR sheets. Panels and waiting lists will remain valid for one year, with a possible six-month extension if required.
The Commission has warned that any answer sheet containing objectionable remarks, symbols or drawings will be cancelled. The answer key will be published on the SSC website a few days after the exam, enabling candidates to cross-check with their carbon copies.
The next phase of recruitment exams for Classes 11 and 12 is scheduled on September 14, with 2,46,500 candidates appearing across 478 centres. The Commission noted that a large number of candidates selected in 2016 have reapplied this year, leading to a rise of nearly 2.5 lakh applicants compared to previous editions.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
