Karnataka panel seeks blueprint to end exam leaks, overhaul recruitment

The Karnataka Cabinet sub-committee on student issues and education reforms has directed S.R. Niranjana, Vice-Chairman of the Karnataka State Higher Education Council, to prepare a detailed report on conducting examinations without paper leaks and ensuring transparency in both examinations and recruitment processes for state posts.

U.T. Khader, Minister for Health and Family Welfare and head of the sub-committee, announced the directive on Thursday after the panel's first meeting. The move follows nationwide student protests triggered by the NEET paper leak and allegations of irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission's (KPSC) recruitment of 400 veterinary officers. Similar protests over recruitment exam irregularities were also witnessed in Jharkhand and Delhi.

The sub-committee was constituted in response to these events, as well as to concerns raised during Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's student interaction programme, 'Chatron Ki Goonj'.

During the meeting, members discussed the KPSC's recruitment process, specifically its failure to adopt a Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)-style examination system. This, the panel noted, may have prevented deserving candidates from securing coveted government positions. Madhu Bangarappa, Minister for School Education and Literacy and a sub-committee member, stressed the need for a permanent solution to irregularities in KPSC recruitment, calling for necessary reforms to end such cases.

In a separate initiative, the sub-committee announced plans to launch a website where students, parents, and other stakeholders can submit suggestions on education reforms. The panel will also undertake statewide tours to interact directly with students and teachers to understand their concerns firsthand.