Kerala PSC Exam Marking Errors Exposed: 9 Questions Unevaluated for 228 Candidates
The Internal Vigilance Wing of the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) has found anomalies in the evaluation of ten questions in an examination for the Chief (Industry and Infrastructure) post in the State Planning Board. According to an interim report, answers to nine questions for all 228 candidates were not evaluated due to an error in assigning these questions for evaluation in the On Screen Marking (OSM) system.
The probe team discovered that questions numbered 10 to 18 were not assigned to evaluators for any of the 228 answer sheets. Additionally, for 177 answer sheets, question 9 was also not evaluated. These ten descriptive questions carried a total of 58 out of 100 marks. Based on these findings, the commission has directed a comprehensive probe, with a report due within two weeks.
The irregularities came to light after a candidate obtained answer sheets through a Right to Information (RTI) request. The State Information Commission has now directed the PSC to provide answer sheets and other details to all applicants within seven days, noting that the PSC could not convincingly explain why it withheld the sheets after the rank list was published.
The Kerala PSC Employees Union has dismissed allegations of deliberate sabotage, calling them part of an organised campaign by some media outlets. The union stated that the PSC immediately initiated an internal probe upon discovering the issue. It also rejected claims of delays in providing answer sheets, explaining that copies can only be released after rank lists are published when multiple posts are filled simultaneously. The union emphasised that the PSC has conducted 3.15 lakh recruitments over the past decade, maintaining its status as a model for other state commissions.
The suspected administrative irregularities have sparked debate, particularly regarding the evaluation process for three posts in the State Planning Board, each with a monthly salary of around ₹1.25 lakh. The PSC has assured a thorough investigation to ensure transparency and accountability.
