OPSC to award extra marks after errors found in SDIPRO exam paper

The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) awarded an additional six marks to all candidates who appeared for the Sub-Divisional Information and Public Relations Officer (SDIPRO) (OIS-II) recruitment examination, conducted under Advertisement No. 05 of 2024–25. The written examination, held on March 29 and 30, 2025, included a descriptive paper on Journalism and Mass Communication in Part-B, where a discrepancy in the total marks was later discovered.

According to an official notice issued by the Commission, Question Nos. 08, 09, and 10 in the Journalism and Mass Communication paper carried six marks each. However, when individual marks for all questions were added, the total came to 94 instead of the full 100 marks, as indicated on the front page of the question paper.

After reviewing the matter, the Commission acknowledged the printing error and confirmed that six additional marks would be awarded to all candidates, regardless of their actual performance in that paper.

Candidates Raised Concerns Over Marking Discrepancy

Candidates had earlier flagged the inconsistency during and after the examination, noting that the marks allotted for the section did not sum up to the stated total. Aspirants alleged that this discrepancy could have affected their scores and final rankings.

The issue led to concern among examinees, who urged the authorities to address the matter promptly to maintain the transparency and fairness of the recruitment process.

The SDIPRO examination plays a significant role in the selection of officers under the Odisha Information Service (OIS), and each mark is critical in determining final results. The Commission’s decision to compensate for the error aims to ensure equal treatment for all candidates.