Lucknow: Ahead of the review officer/assistant review officer (RO/ARO) examination 2023 on July 27, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has taken a slew of measures to ensure a fair, transparent and disruption-free exam that will see over 10.76 lakh candidates.To eliminate the risk of malpractice, paper leaks or any form of misconduct, a comprehensive strategy was framed involving advanced technology, strict confidentiality protocols, robust administrative oversight and stringent security arrangements. Monitoring will be carried out through a combination of artificial intelligence, CCTV surveillance and social media tracking.The examination will be conducted in a single shift at 2,382 centres across all 75 districts of the state, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. In each district, the district magistrate will serve as the nodal officer for supervision.To maintain strict confidentiality, question papers were prepared in two separate sets. A computer-based randomisation process will determine which set to use, just 45 minutes before the exam begins. Each question paper will be available in eight jumbled series, each marked with a unique and variable barcode. These papers will be securely stored in confidential trunk boxes with triple-locking mechanisms and five-layer tamper-proof packaging. This entire process will be monitored via live CCTV streaming at the centre, district, and commission levels.Candidate identification and centre allocation have been digitised to ensure transparency and eliminate potential bias. Examination centres have been assigned through a computer-generated randomisation process. E-admit cards are linked to an eight-step verification system under the One Time Registration (OTR) process, which includes critical personal information such as name, father’s name, date of birth, category, high school year and roll number.Entry into exam centres will require biometric authentication and facial recognition. Dual-layer frisking will be conducted jointly by the police and the implementing agency, said a govt spokesperson.To ensure rigorous supervision at each exam centre, a team consisting of a sector magistrate, a static magistrate, a centre administrator, two deputy centre administrators, and trained invigilators will be deployed. The centre administrator will appoint half of the invigilators, while the district magistrate/district inspector of schools will assign the other half. Invigilator duties will also be determined through computer randomisation to ensure impartiality.Additionally, a dedicated social media monitoring cell has been established to track and respond swiftly to any rumours, leaks, or suspicious online activity. The use of electronic devices will be strictly prohibited within examination centres.
