Karnataka steps up safeguards for recruitment exams amid paper leak concerns

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Home Department on Thursday held a high-level review meeting to assess preparedness for recruitment examinations to fill about 70,000 state government posts, including police vacancies, with a focus on preventing question paper leaks and other malpractices.

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Rajender Kataria reviewed arrangements with Additional DGP (Recruitment) Umesh Kumar, Additional DGP (Law and Order) Hitendra, senior IPS officer Soumendu Mukherjee, Revenue Commissioner Meena Nagaraj, Karnataka Examinations Authority Executive Director Prasanna, and Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and other senior officials.

Kataria directed district authorities to ensure meticulous planning and close coordination among departments so that all examinations are conducted in a secure, fair and transparent manner. He stressed the need for foolproof security at examination centres, safe transportation and custody of confidential examination material, adequate police deployment, traffic management, emergency response arrangements and continuous monitoring by senior officers.


He also asked officials to remain on high alert against question paper leaks, impersonation, organised cheating, the use of electronic devices and other unfair practices. Cyber Crime Units and Intelligence Wings have been directed to closely monitor digital platforms and take immediate action against any attempt to compromise the integrity of the examinations.

The Home Department said the government would follow a zero-tolerance approach towards examination malpractices. Strict action would be taken under the Karnataka Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Corruption and Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act, 2023 against anyone found violating the law.

The upcoming police recruitment examinations are scheduled as follows:

• August 2: Written examination for 3,991 Civil Police Constable posts.
  
• September 6: Written examination for 1,600 Armed Police Constable posts.
  
• September 20: Written examination for 2,314 Special Police Constable posts in the KSRP, IRB and KSISF.
  

The Home Department reiterated its commitment to conducting all recruitment examinations in a free, fair and transparent manner while ensuring equal opportunity for candidates and maintaining public confidence in the recruitment process.