The selection of candidates in Group I main exams was carried out in a transparent manner and conscientiously according to the rules, said Shaik Salam Babu, a member of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), here on Thursday.
At a press conference, Mr Salam Babu dismissed as unfounded the allegations made against the Commission regarding irregularities in the selection of candidates for the Group I exams, saying they would only discredit the Commission’s credibility.
Referring to the claim that 70 candidates were selected as part of the sports quota, he said there was no truth in that. Candidates in all categories were given equal opportunities and the choice of language in which to write their exam. He said candidates have been asked to upload their sports certificates and a gold medal in the Olympics is a top priority. The certificates were then ratified by the Andhra Pradesh Sports Authority (SAAP).
Regarding the alleged exchange of exercise books by the candidates in the examination centers in places like Kakinada and Srikakulam, the Commissioner wanted to clarify that, in accordance with the standards, damaged exercise books have been replaced with buffer exercise books.
There is also no truth in reports that there are loopholes in the digital evaluation of the papers, he said, saying that the commission is closely investigating the various aspects of digital evaluation that are being pursued in other states for two months and only after Convinced that it was a foolproof system, it decided to introduce it in the state.
In response to a question, Salam Babu replied that the Commission had discretion to change the ratio of candidates to be selected. He said the outcome will always depend on the efficiency of the candidates and the exam pattern. “There have been cases of candidates who failed Group III exams but passed Group I exams and vice versa.
He said that reforms have been brought to the Commission, which works the most transparently and is always ready to dispel any doubts. However, the Commission’s standards did not allow re-evaluation of the answer sheets, he clarified.
Regarding calls to increase the number of jobs in the recently published job calendar, Salam Babu said that since the commission was not empowered to do so, it had brought the problem to the attention of the government.
Meanwhile, leaders of various student organizations protested outside the commission’s office, demanding that the number of jobs be increased in order to do justice to unemployed youth in the state.