Maharashtra recruitment exams set for overhaul: Fadnavis forms panel, orders 25,000 secure classrooms

CM Devendra Fadnavis issued the directions during a specially convened meeting at his official residence, Varsha, in Mumbai on Wednesday. PIC/X

Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday decided to constitute a high-level committee to implement comprehensive, secure, and consensus-driven reforms in the recruitment examination process for various state services.

The committee has been directed to visit every revenue division in the state, interact directly with students, and submit a consolidated report outlining measures for a systemic overhaul of the examination process, news agency IANS reported.

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, who was also present at the meeting, offered several key suggestions.

Fadnavis issued the directions during a specially convened meeting at his official residence, Varsha.

The decision comes amid recent protests at Jantar Mantar over the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak and the ongoing student agitation in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

V Radha to head panel on recruitment exam reforms

V Radha, Additional Chief Secretary of the General Administration Department, will chair the high-level committee.

The panel will include Director General of Police Sadanand Date, Information Technology Department Secretary Virendra Singh, Animal Husbandry Department Secretary N Ramaswamy, and Nashik Divisional Commissioner Praveen Gedam.

The committee will travel to each revenue division and consult students, educational institution administrators, and other relevant stakeholders. Their inputs will form the basis of a comprehensive state policy on recruitment examinations.

Referring to the stringent law recently passed by Parliament to curb paper leaks and examination malpractices, Fadnavis said Maharashtra already has its own legislation, but the Central law is more rigorous.

He, therefore, directed officials to complete the process of adopting and implementing the Central legislation in Maharashtra within the next fortnight.

Maharashtra to set up 25,000 secure classrooms

CM Fadnavis also directed the government to establish at least 25,000 secure classrooms across the state.

The meeting further discussed several related issues, including clearly defining coordination roles for district collectors, police commissioners, superintendents of police, and senior education officials.

Officials were also asked to review global examination models, assess existing operational procedures and identify areas where reforms could be introduced.

JSSC JE paper leak case: Director of exam agency arrested in Mumbai

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Ranchi Police has arrested the director of the agency responsible for conducting the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Junior Engineer (Diploma) Competitive Examination, 2022, in connection with the paper leak case, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Arun Kumar, was arrested in Mumbai after investigators uncovered evidence suggesting the examination agency's alleged involvement in the scam, reported IANS.

(With IANS inputs)