UPPSC's 'master plan' to prevent cheating and paper leak, will color coded exam paper help in this?

If you are going to appear for UPPSC exams in the coming days, then know what special preparations UPPSC has made to prevent paper leak and cheating...

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The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission is set to implement a revolutionary system of colour coded examination papers aimed at tackling rampant cheating in UPPSC competitive examinations. The initiative comes after the state government approved the Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Ordinance 2024 on June 30.

The ordinance, which was formally notified on July 1, provides for strict punishment for exam malpractices, including life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore for those involved in paper leaks and other cheating activities.

How is UPPSC's preparation to prevent cheating and leaks?

To protect its examination process from cheating and leaks, UPPSC has also amended the Uttar Pradesh State Public Service Commission (Regulation of Procedure) Act. Under this amendment, there is a provision to prepare four different sets of question papers for each public service examination. The purpose behind this change is to prevent cheating and maintain the credibility of the recruitment process.

According to media reports, in the new system, examiners from different centers will prepare question papers which will be kept in sealed envelopes. These envelopes will be closely monitored under the supervision of the Controller of Examinations. Out of the four sets prepared, two will be selected for printing without any prior inspection to ensure that the confidentiality of the paper is maintained.

What will be the moderator's job

The moderation process involves assessing the difficulty level of the question papers. The moderator will receive sealed envelopes, inspect them and later seal them in separate packets with no identifying marks. This security measure is important to prevent any possible leak before the exam begins.

Selected sets of question papers will be sent to two different printing presses where they will be printed in different colours and given secret codes. The printing presses will put their seal before distributing the coloured papers to the exam centres, thereby further enhancing the security of the exam process. This reform is a response to the recent controversies related to paper leaks in important exams like UGC-NET, NEET UG and UP Police Constable Eligibility Test.