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

Maharashtra Chief Minister CM Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday decided to constitute a highlevel committee to implement comprehensive secure and consensusdriven reforms in the recruitment examination process for various state servicesThe 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 reportedDeputy CM Eknath Shinde who was also present at the meeting offered several key suggestionsFadnavis issued the directions during a specially convened meeting at his official residence VarshaThe 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 JSSCV Radha to head panel on recruitment exam reformsV Radha Additional Chief Secretary of the General Administration Department will chair the highlevel committeeThe 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 GedamThe 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 examinationsReferring 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 rigorousHe therefore directed officials to complete the process of adopting and implementing the Central legislation in Maharashtra within the next fortnightMaharashtra to set up 25000 secure classroomsCM Fadnavis also directed the government to establish at least 25000 secure classrooms across the stateThe meeting further discussed several related issues including clearly defining coordination roles for district collectors police commissioners superintendents of police and senior education officialsOfficials were also asked to review global examination models assess existing operational procedures and identify areas where reforms could be introducedJSSC JE paper leak case Director of exam agency arrested in MumbaiA 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 TuesdayThe accused identified as Arun Kumar was arrested in Mumbai after investigators uncovered evidence suggesting the examination agencyrsquos alleged involvement in the scam reported IANSWith IANS inputs