Irregularities to exam postponement in Odisha: Time to address aspirants’ pain and fix the hiring process

By Dilip Sabat

Job seekers in India have faced significant challenges in the past five years due to errors, discrepancies, and irregularities in recruitment examinations. Critics question the accountability of the contracting institutions and officials responsible for these failures. Concerns over potential malpractice led the Odisha government to postpone several examinations scheduled for March, a decision affecting numerous hopeful candidates.

The controversy escalated with the postponement of a major recruitment test for Odisha Police Sub-Inspectors, initially set for 8-9 March, amid allegations of corruption voiced by the State Youth Congress. Prior to the postponement, Congress accused the examinations of being exercises with positions allegedly predetermined for sale.

Fading Trust in Recruitment Process 

The examinations' postponement came just two days before the tests were to take place, raising concerns about the manipulation of young jobseekers' futures in Odisha. Many felt disheartened as they faced yet another uncertain delay in their employment journey.

The outsourced examination process, previously managed by a company with a reputation for incompetence and blacklisted under prior governance, continues to lack accountability despite prior recruitment mishaps.

Since 2018, when the Odisha Staff Selection Commission announced Police Sub-Inspector recruitment, the process has delayed, eventually moving to the Odisha Police Recruitment Board in 2021. Problems with the computer-based test's questions caused tremendous dissatisfaction, although testing resumed in August.

Despite the turmoil, candidates demonstrate resilience. The government needs to reassure applicants that merit-based recruitment is possible, distinct from previous controversies. This assurance is crucial, particularly as a high number of overqualified candidates applied for just 107 home guard positions in Rourkela, indicating limited job options.

Incidents such as leaked question papers and alleged job sale must be addressed to protect aspirants from becoming despondent once more.