Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC), which conducted the first phase of the Assistant Professor Recruitment Examination 2024 on Sunday, saw several cases of malpractice during the exam which witnessed a turnout of only 54 per cent of registered candidates. 

The exam, which was held major divisions including Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur and Gwalior, drew flak for scores of cheating cases.

In Indore alone, six candidates were caught attempting to cheat. Some were found wearing banned smartwatches, and one candidate was caught carrying a pencil and eraser, also against the rules. These breaches occurred despite double-layered frisking at the exam centres. Exam centre heads, however, claim that candidates smuggled in smart devices by concealing them, prompting the commission to demand a detailed report from the concerned centres.

Indore reports lowest attendance

Out of nearly 44,000 candidates registered to take the exam across 97 centres, only 23,760 appeared. Indore, which had made arrangements for 31,839 candidates across 85 centres, recorded the lowest attendance with only 13,440 candidates (42%) showing up.

The exam aimed to fill 1,618 assistant professor posts in 14 subjects, along with 187 sports officer and 80 librarian positions.

Flying squads monitor centres

To curb malpractices, MPPSC had deployed flying squads consisting of 10 supervisors and 10 special supervisors in each division. Despite these precautions, multiple cases of cheating were reported and have been documented in reports submitted to the commission.

Entry scrutiny and last-minute arrivals

Candidates began arriving at exam centres from 9 am. Security protocols included biometric verification, photo ID checks, and physical inspection. Male candidates were asked to remove smartwatches, while female candidates were instructed to remove earrings. Candidates from nearby cities like Ujjain, Dewas, Ratlam, and Dhar were also in attendance, though several reached the centres just 15 minutes before the exam. While some were initially denied entry, they were later allowed in after arguments with centre staff.

Paper difficulty mixed

The exam was held in two sessions. The general knowledge paper, conducted from 10 am to 11 am, was considered relatively simple and focused largely on topics related to Madhya Pradesh. The subject-specific paper, held from 1 pm to 4 pm, varied in difficulty. Candidates reported that papers in physics, mathematics, economics and computer science were particularly challenging and time-consuming.