By In a decisive step to enhance transparency and curb malpractices, the Railway Ministry has assigned the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) the responsibility of conducting all departmental promotion examinations through a centralized computer-based test (CBT), officials confirmed on Wednesday.
This move follows a major crackdown by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which arrested 26 officials from the East Central Railway in Mughal Sarai, Uttar Pradesh, over allegations of leaking confidential examination papers. During the raids, authorities also recovered Rs 1.17 crore in cash, further highlighting the extent of the malpractice.
Previously, departmental promotion exams were conducted internally by individual railway divisions and zones. However, concerns over corruption, irregularities, and the use of unfair means had been mounting, prompting the Railway Ministry to intervene and introduce a standardized examination process under the RRB’s supervision.
By shifting to a centralized CBT system, the ministry aims to ensure a fair, transparent, and merit-based promotion process while eliminating the possibility of paper leaks and other fraudulent activities. This reform is expected to bring greater accountability and efficiency to the promotion system within the Indian Railways.
In response to recent incidents of examination malpractice, the Railway Ministry has implemented several measures to enhance the integrity of its departmental promotion process:
Centralized Computer-Based Testing (CBT): The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) will now oversee all departmental promotion exams using a centralized CBT system.
Established Examination Calendar: All zonal railways are required to adhere to a fixed examination schedule. This structured approach seeks to eliminate last-minute changes and ensure consistency across all zones.
Enhanced Security Protocols: To maintain the integrity of the examinations, several security measures have been instituted:
- Randomized Center Allocation: Examination centers are assigned through a computerized randomization process, minimizing manual intervention and potential biases.
- Delayed Venue Disclosure: Details of specific examination venues are released only four days prior to the exam date, reducing the risk of premeditated malpractices.
- Comprehensive Surveillance: All examination centers are equipped with 100% CCTV coverage, with recordings starting two hours before and ending one hour after the exam. This measure ensures continuous monitoring of activities within the centers.
- Stringent Candidate Verification: Candidates undergo thorough checks, including frisking with hand-held metal detectors and biometric attendance (both fingerprint and digital) before entry, during, and after the examination.
These initiatives underscore the Railway Ministry’s commitment to fostering a fair and transparent promotion process, ensuring that merit and integrity remain at the forefront of its operations.
In light of recent examination malpractices, the Railway Ministry has implemented additional measures to enhance the integrity of its departmental promotion process:
Centralized Computer-Based Testing (CBT): The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) will now oversee all departmental promotion exams using a centralized CBT system. This shift aims to standardize the examination process and reduce opportunities for misconduct.
Established Examination Calendar: All zonal railways are required to adhere to a fixed examination schedule. This structured approach seeks to eliminate last-minute changes and ensure consistency across all zones.
Enhanced Security Protocols: To maintain the integrity of the examinations, several security measures have been instituted:
- Randomized Center Allocation: Examination centers are assigned through a computerized randomization process, minimizing manual intervention and potential biases.
- Delayed Venue Disclosure: Details of specific examination venues are released only four days prior to the exam date, reducing the risk of premeditated malpractices.
- Comprehensive Surveillance: All examination centers are equipped with 100% CCTV coverage, with recordings starting two hours before and ending one hour after the exam. This measure ensures continuous monitoring of activities within the centers.
- Stringent Candidate Verification: Candidates undergo thorough checks, including frisking with hand-held metal detectors and biometric attendance (both fingerprint and digital) before entry, during, and after the examination.
These initiatives underscore the Railway Ministry’s commitment to fostering a fair and transparent promotion process, ensuring that merit and integrity remain at the forefront of its operations.
