Gujarat Lokayukta Proposes Government-Run Press For Recruitment Exam Paper Printing To Prevent Leaks

The Lokayukta recommended establishing a more comprehensive procedure for developing question papers for competitive exams.

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Lokayukta has recommended printing recruitment exam papers for the state Subordinate Service Selection Board solely at government-run presses to enhance accountability in case of leaks. Additionally, the Lokayukta proposed limiting the knowledge of exact questions to a select few, such as the selection board chairman, to further safeguard against leaks. These suggestions were outlined in the 'Twenty Third Annual Consolidated Report of Lokayukta of Gujarat', presented in the state assembly during the ongoing budget session, as reported by news agency PTI.

Additionally, the Lokayukta advised considering the paper-setting procedures of either the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) or the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

In response to complaints regarding question paper leaks during various written tests conducted by the Gujarat Subordinate Service Selection Board (GSSSB), the Lokayukta initiated an inquiry in 2022 based on public grievances.

"To make the system transparent and accountable and to avoid any such incident in future, it is desirable if the government, at the appropriate level, makes necessary modification in the procedure so that responsibility can be fixed and cross-examination can be done," stated the report prepared by Lokayukta Justice Rajesh Shukla (retired).

The Lokayukta stated that "first of all, the papers should be printed only at the government-run press where the responsibility could be fixed in case of a paper leak incident." "Even if the present system is continued, some changes in the procedure are required to maintain secrecy. When the paper goes into printing, persons involved in the printing or the owner of the press should also follow certain norms," as per the report.

It is worth noting that previous police investigations uncovered instances where a head clerk recruitment exam paper was leaked from a private press in Sanand city, which had been contracted by the GSSSB for printing. Similarly, a junior clerk recruitment exam paper was leaked from a private press in Telangana.

The Lokayukta also recommended establishing a more comprehensive procedure for developing question papers for competitive exams. According to Lokayukta's proposal, only a select few individuals, such as the board chairman, should be aware of the specific questions included in the paper, even as multiple sets of questions are gathered from one or more moderators.

"Thus, it will not be known which questions are likely to be included in the final paper. A close examination of the procedure for setting the papers followed by the GPSC or UPSC could be considered to get a better idea for improving the process of conducting the examination," the Lokayukta added. 

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