Bhubaneswar, Sep 23: In a decisive move to uphold the integrity of recruitment processes, the Odisha government has introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for conducting all competitive and recruitment examinations across departments.

The directive comes amid rising concerns over procedural lapses and irregularities in past examinations. The SOP mandates strict administrative oversight and uniform guidelines to be followed during the conduct of exams.

A letter issued by the Additional Chief Secretary of the General Administration and Public Grievance Department has been sent to all departmental heads and district collectors, instructing them to ensure rigorous compliance with the SOP.

The government emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of malpractice, error, or disruption during recruitment exams. This move is especially significant as the state prepares to fill over 1.5 lakh vacant posts through competitive examinations in the coming months.

Historically, different recruitment agencies have followed varied procedures, often leading to complaints and allegations of discrepancies. The newly introduced SOP aims to eliminate such inconsistencies and ensure a transparent, secure, and fair examination environment.

The SOP outlines measures for secure question paper handling, biometric verification of candidates, surveillance protocols, and real-time monitoring of exam centres. It also stresses the importance of accountability among officials involved in the examination process.

The government’s proactive stance reflects its commitment to merit-based recruitment and restoring public trust in the system.