Students and candidates in Pune will get an opportunity to submit suggestions and complaints on Maharashtra government recruitment examinations before a state-appointed high-level committee on September 12, as the government reviews measures to make the process more transparent, secure and candidate-focused.
The committee, chaired by an additional chief secretary, will meet students and examination candidates at Savitribai Phule Pune University at 10.30 a.m. on September 12. Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi announced the meeting through a press release.
The review follows concerns about irregularities in government recruitment examinations, including paper leaks, impersonation by dummy candidates and other forms of malpractice. The committee is consulting students, parents, teachers, educational institutions, coaching classes, study-room operators and elected representatives across the state’s revenue divisions.
The consultations will cover the functioning of the existing examination system, as well as the procedures followed by state government departments, authorities and agencies that conduct recruitment examinations. The committee is seeking suggestions on measures that can make examinations safer, more reliable, impartial and responsive to candidates.
Among the areas under review are question-paper preparation and moderation, the distribution of digital or printed question papers, confidential transportation, examination-centre management, recording of candidate responses, evaluation and the publication of results. The committee will also seek feedback on the use of biometric authentication, access controls, audit trails and closed-circuit television surveillance.
The review will examine preventive measures against question-paper leaks, breaches of confidentiality, impersonation, collusion and the misuse of electronic devices. Suggestions on fixing accountability for those involved in irregularities will also be considered, according to the district administration’s statement.
The committee is additionally seeking inputs on secure examination practices followed in other states and countries, minimum infrastructure and safety standards for examination centres, coordination between government agencies and a faster, more transparent grievance-redressal system for candidates.
A special cell has been established at the Pune District Collector’s Office to receive suggestions, recommendations, objections and representations from students and other stakeholders in the district. Submissions can be made between September 7 and September 10, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the collector’s office. They can also be sent by email to examcollectorpune@gmail.com.
The district administration will compile the submissions received through the special cell and forward them to the high-level committee. The committee will examine the feedback and submit a comprehensive final report to the Maharashtra government, the statement said.
