Karnataka: Report on plugging exam and recruitment loopholes sought

The Cabinet sub-committee on student issues and education reforms has asked S.R. Niranjana, Vice-Chairman of the Karnataka State Higher Education Council, to submit a report on conducting examinations without paper leaks and ensuring transparency in examinations and recruitment processes for various posts, U.T. Khader, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, who heads the sub-committee, said on Thursday after its first meeting.

This comes in the wake of widespread student protests across the country over the NEET paper leak and the recent controversy surrounding the alleged scam in the recruitment of 400 veterinary officers by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). The Jharkhand government faced similar protests, as seen in Delhi, over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. The sub-committee was also formed in response to Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s student interaction programme, Chatron Ki Goonj, and recent student protests across the country.

The committee also discussed the recruitment process of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). There was a discussion on KPSC’s inability to adopt a Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)-style examination system and how this may have prevented deserving candidates from securing coveted posts in the State government. “A permanent solution should be found to the irregularities and problems in the KPSC recruitment process. Necessary reforms should be undertaken to put an end to such cases,” said Madhu Bangarappa, Minister for School Education and Literacy and a member of the sub-committee.

The sub-committee also announced that it would launch a website for students, parents and other stakeholders to submit suggestions on education reforms. The committee will also tour the State to interact with students and teachers and understand their problems firsthand.