Amid public outrage over glaring irregularities in the recently held OSSC and OPSC examinations, Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj on Monday assured that strict action would be taken against those found guilty.
Speaking to reporters, the minister emphasized that no responsible party would be spared.
“We have already passed a Bill in the Assembly to ensure stricter measures against such discrepancies. Whoever is found guilty will face strict action under the law,” Suraj stated.
The controversy arose after major errors were reported in both the Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) and Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) exams held on Sunday. Candidates appearing for OSSC’s Excise Sub-Inspector and Traffic Sub-Inspector posts were shocked to find questions from the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) syllabus instead of the expected Odia, English, and General Knowledge subjects. Many aspirants expressed anger and confusion over the sudden change.
Similarly, in the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) 2023 Main Examination conducted by OPSC, a severe mix-up occurred during the optional Anthropology papers. In the first sitting, candidates received questions meant for Paper-II instead of Paper-I, and the confusion continued in the second sitting as well, causing widespread dissatisfaction.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fairness and transparency in recruitment examinations. “Examinations are gateways to careers. Any negligence will not be tolerated. A departmental probe is underway, and strict action will follow,” he added.
Meanwhile, demands are rising from student groups and civil society organizations for swift corrective measures and systemic reforms to prevent such incidents in the future. The credibility of reputed agencies like OSSC and OPSC has come under scrutiny, intensifying calls for accountability.
