SOPs for Odisha recruitment exams tightened, question papers to be printed only at govt-approved press

In a major move to curb discrepancies and malpractice in recruitment examinations, the Odisha government has introduced comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering all aspects of competitive tests.

The initiative aims to ensure secure printing, distribution, administration, and evaluation of examination materials, while enforcing strict oversight for both online and offline exams.

Secure Printing and Examination Management

Under the new guidelines, question papers will be printed only in government-approved presses under the physical supervision of senior officials, including a senior Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer, a senior police officer, and another department official.

Police officers of Inspector General rank or higher will oversee the printing of police recruitment exams. The SOP mandates sealing of question papers on both sides, destruction of residual cuttings, and video recording of the opening process at exam centres to maintain transparency.

For online exams, multifactor authentication will be mandatory for candidates, while AI-powered monitoring and proctoring tools will supervise exam activity.

Lockdown browsers, randomised question pools, time limits, and image verification protocols will further strengthen exam integrity. The State Government has also instructed that no recruitment agency may outsource examination duties without explicit approval.

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Centralised Oversight and Integrated Command Control

All examination centres will operate under the supervision of an Integrated Command Control Centre (ICCC), with live CCTV feeds linked to auditing authorities such as OCAC and NIC.

Committees comprising representatives from Higher Education, NIC, OCAC, and examining bodies will oversee logistical and technical arrangements. After each exam, detailed reports will be submitted to ICCC for review and verification.

High-Security Infrastructure and Future Plans

The government plans to establish a dedicated high-security printing press for question papers, or adapt a section of existing presses for this purpose.

Examination halls will be set up in government colleges, universities, or select institutions with adequate space, IT infrastructure, and cybersecurity measures. Law and order will be strictly maintained through adequate police deployment at all centres.