Wrong question paper distributed in LGS exam; PSC partially cancels test, 1.5 lakh affected

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC), already under scrutiny over examination irregularities, has landed in fresh controversy after a serious lapse during the Last Grade Servants (LGS) recruitment examination. Candidates who appeared for the morning session at an examination centre in Alappuzha on Saturday were mistakenly given the question paper meant for the afternoon session.

Following the mix-up, the PSC partially cancelled the LGS written examination across the state. The recruitment test, being conducted as the first phase for Last Grade posts in various government companies, boards and corporations, was scheduled in two sessions on Saturday. After the error came to light, the afternoon session, scheduled from 1.30 pm to 3.05 pm, was cancelled. The mistake left around 1.5 lakh candidates disappointed, forcing them to return home without taking the examination. Many had travelled long distances to reach their allotted examination centres. The PSC is expected to decide the new date for the cancelled examination at its meeting on Monday.

The mix-up occurred at Centre No. 2 of Lajnathul Muhammadiya Higher Secondary School in Alappuzha, where 166 candidates were given the afternoon session question paper during the morning examination. The morning examination was held from 10 am to 11.35 am. The mistake came to light only after candidates completed the examination and began discussing the questions among themselves. Suspecting something was amiss, they checked the question paper code and discovered that it belonged to the afternoon session. The candidates then returned to the school and lodged a complaint. Some also informed coaching centres about the incident. The PSC came to know about the mix-up only after candidates submitted complaints to its district office. Soon after, the Commission announced the cancellation of the statewide afternoon examination.

However, the morning examination has not been cancelled across Kerala. Instead, the PSC has decided to conduct a re-examination only for the 166 candidates at the affected Alappuzha centre who received the wrong question paper.

Around six lakh applicants

Around six lakh candidates have applied for the Last Grade recruitment examination. Of them, nearly half were scheduled to appear for Saturday's examination.

Even colour of covers was ignored

1. Officials responsible for conducting the examination opened the question paper packet without checking the code. The covers of the question paper packets were in two different colours: brown for the morning session and green for the afternoon session. They were also clearly marked "Forenoon" and "Afternoon". However, these markings were reportedly not noticed before the packets were opened.
2. Officials on examination duty explained that the confusion arose because the question papers for both the morning and afternoon sessions were delivered together to the examination centre.
3. School authorities said two separate bundles of question papers had been delivered to the school. When the bundle meant for the morning session was opened, the OMR answer sheets and attendance sheets were correct, but the question paper included in the bundle was the one meant for the afternoon session.

PSC official to be suspended

The PSC has decided to suspend the official who was serving as the Additional Chief Superintendent at the examination centre and initiate a departmental inquiry into the incident. The official is an Assistant at the PSC headquarters. The Commission has also sought an explanation from the school principal, who served as the Chief Superintendent of the examination centre.