Strict Measures Put In Place To Prevent Candidates From Using Unfair Means During RRB Exams

In order to prevent malpractices in the ongoing railway exams, the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has taken adequate safeguards to curb unfair means in the test centres.

Currently, exams are being carried out in phases to fill 103,769 vacancies of Level-1 posts which are mainly gang man or track maintainer jobs.

The fourth phase of RRB exams for Level-1 posts has started on 19 September.

Three phases of computer-based test (CBT) have already been completed involving 12 zonal railways.

There are about 11,157,986 candidates who have applied in this recruitment process.

The CBT is to be conducted in five phases. The RRB has engaged a highly reputed company to conduct the test.

Arrangements have been made to ensure a foolproof system for the smooth conduct of exams.

Various safeguards and protections are built into the system to prevent and eliminate any kind of irregularity.

According to the arrangement, the allocation of the centre to the candidates is randomised through computer logic.

Once candidates report at the exam centre and register themselves, the allocation of lab and seats are also randomised.

The question paper is in highly encrypted form and no one other than the candidate can access the question paper, and that too once the candidate does second and final login into the computer after the start of exam and hence final decryption of question paper takes place at this stage.

The sequence of questions in the question paper that is made available to candidates has also been randomised/shuffled along with the randomisation/shuffling of all four options available for the question.

Each candidate in the exam centre thus has a unique question paper and no two candidates have same question papers with given sequence of questions and options.

The sequence is completely different from question sequence in master question paper.

No answer key can be prepared for a given candidate as no individual has access to know the seat that will get allotted to the candidate, as well as the sequence of questions and options which are actually unique for a given candidate.

The exams are conducted in strict surveillance of CCTV cameras with full recording of each and every candidate.

The railways also deploys their own staff at each centre to monitor activities of candidates as well as staff of exam conducting agency (ECA) to ensure smooth conduct of exams.

The railways deploys two persons including one RPF personnel in server room to keep watch on any suspicious activities.

Aadhaar authentication of candidates has been introduced first time in Level-1 exam.

Aadhaar authentication is being used by RRBs as an additional measure to prevent impersonation in addition to measures already in place, like capturing and verifying biometrics at each stage of the recruitment process right to the appointment stage.

The rate of successful Aadhaar verified candidates is more than 99 per cent.

Strict vigilance is being done by railway staff as well as ECA during the exams.

As a result, a number of candidates involving in some kinds of malpractice/unfair means are being regularly caught.

Due to enhanced invigilation and extra supervision, total 108 cases of malpractice/unfair means have been reported. The FIRs have been filed in 81 cases in police stations.

Cases are thoroughly investigated by comparing the options mentioned therein with candidates’ question papers and their responses. Total of 19 cases have been reported.

After detailed analysis it is found that for 18 cases the candidates answer keys are not matching. One case is under the analysis stage.

ECA invigilators are also being regularly shuffled as a preventive measure to avoid development of any nexus with candidates.

All the steps enumerated above ensure that it is impossible for someone to get the candidate selected in the railways through dubious means.

Besides filing police complaints against the candidates and individuals indulging in malpractices, such candidates have been debarred from appearing in future RRB exams for life.

The candidates are advised not to fall prey to any false claims made by any unscrupulous element and damage their career prospects.