Odisha job aspirants demand recruitment reforms, including OMR exams, uniform shifts, waiting lists, higher shortlisting ratios and recruitment calendars
OdishaPlus Bureau
Amid growing protests over alleged examination irregularities in different parts of the country, a group of students and job aspirants on Tuesday demanded sweeping reforms in Odisha’s recruitment examination system, calling for greater transparency, fairness, equal opportunity and timely completion of the selection process.
Addressing media persons at the State Library here, the aspirants demanded that all recruitment agencies, including the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC), Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC), Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC), Odisha University Staff Selection Commission (OUSSSC) and State Selection Board (SSB), conduct examinations through the offline/OMR mode wherever feasible.
They also called for adoption of a One Day-One Shift-One Question Paper format, arguing that all candidates appearing for an examination should be given a common question paper in a single shift. The system, they said, would ensure uniform examination conditions and eliminate concerns arising from differences in question papers and examination shifts.
The aspirants further demanded restoration of the waiting-list system, which was discontinued in 2020. They said a transparent waiting-list mechanism would help fill vacancies arising after the main selection process and provide an opportunity to candidates who narrowly miss the merit list despite securing good marks.
Another key demand was an increase in the shortlisting ratio from the existing 1:5 to at least 1:15. The aspirants argued that a higher ratio would allow more deserving candidates who clear the preliminary examination to compete in the subsequent stage.
They pointed out that the shortlisting ratio was earlier around 1:12 but had gradually been reduced to 1:5, restricting the number of candidates eligible to appear for the mains examination in civil services and other key competitive examinations.
The group also called for recruitment agencies to publish a regular recruitment calendar, clearly specifying tentative timelines for applications, examinations, declaration of results, final selection, document verification and joining.
The aspirants said they had submitted a memorandum to the Governor, Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Secretary of the General Administration Department and the five recruitment commissions, seeking appropriate measures to address the concerns of lakhs of job seekers.
They maintained that predictable examination schedules, uniform procedures and greater transparency would reduce uncertainty among candidates and strengthen public confidence in Odisha’s recruitment system.