Candidates worried over OCS exam paper mix-up

Bhubaneswar: Candidates appearing for the main examination of Odisha Civil Services Exam 2023 on Sunday expressed displeasure after encountering questions that were from the second paper and vice-versa. Candidates appearing for anthropology (Paper I) claimed they received questions from anthropology (Paper II) and vice-versa.

The applicants appeared for both anthropology papers in two sessions on Sunday. While appearing for Paper I in the first session, they was found that the question-cum-answer booklet contained questions from the syllabus pertaining to Paper II.

Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC), which conducts the OCS exam, decided to continue the examination, and the candidates were informed to attempt the questions, said a notice issued by OPSC.

OPSC authorities stated that a final decision would be taken by the commission after opening the question-cum-answer booklet packet of anthropology Paper II in the second session. In a second notice issued by the commission, it was stated that after opening the question-cum-answer booklet packets of anthropology optional Paper II in the exam halls in the second session, they found that it contained questions from the syllabus of Paper I.

OPSC continued the exam for Paper II. "Concerned candidates have already been instructed to attempt the optional paper as the questions of Paper II contain questions from the syllabus of Paper I," said the notice issued by OPSC on Sunday afternoon.

A candidate appearing for the exam said the OPSC should not take such a decision in the future. "It scares a candidate who comes with sincere preparation for a paper and appears for another. It creates confusion and a mental block sometimes while appearing for such a tough and important exam," he added.

Candidates expressed worry over the paper switch. However, the OPSC didn't provide more clarity on what led to the problem and what will happen to those who appeared fro the two papers.