Karnataka Recruitment Exams May Get Three-Layer OMR Sheets to Prevent Malpractices

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is exploring a new system of three-layer Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) answer sheets for recruitment examinations to strengthen safeguards against tampering and improve transparency in the handling of answer sheets.

Karnataka Recruitment Exams May Use Three-Layer OMR Sheets

The proposed mechanism would create an additional record of every response marked by a candidate. KEA Executive Director H Prasanna said the authority has already tested the system during a recent Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) recruitment examination. Depending on the outcome, the arrangement could be introduced in other recruitment examinations conducted by KEA.

Three Copies of OMR Sheet Under Proposed System

At present, recruitment examinations generally use a two-layer OMR sheet. One copy is retained by the examination authority for evaluation, while the second copy is provided to the candidate.

Under the proposed three-layer format, an additional copy would be preserved separately, creating another record that can be used for verification.

The third copy is proposed to be kept under secure custody at the district level. This would provide an independent reference for comparing the responses recorded during the examination with the OMR sheet used for evaluation.

KEA Tests Three-Layer OMR During KSRP Recruitment

The three-layer format has already been tried during a recent KSRP recruitment examination, according to the KEA Executive Director. The authority may consider extending the arrangement to other recruitment tests after assessing its effectiveness.

The additional copy is intended to make the movement and custody of answer sheets easier to track. Maintaining multiple records could also provide an additional mechanism for resolving complaints relating to the handling or evaluation of OMR sheets.

Concerns Over OMR Manipulation

The proposed change comes amid concerns regarding alleged irregularities in some recruitment examinations in Karnataka, including allegations of OMR answer-sheet manipulation.

A recent investigation into a KPSC veterinary recruitment examination has involved allegations relating to question-paper leaks and subsequent manipulation of answer sheets. The matter is under investigation, and the allegations have not been established as final findings.

The Karnataka High Court has also constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate alleged irregularities connected with KPSC recruitment processes.

KEA Taking Additional Steps for Transparency

KEA has introduced other measures aimed at making recruitment examinations more transparent. These include scanning OMR sheets after the examination and providing candidates access to their recorded responses.

During the recent KSRP examination, the authority also used multiple locations for scanning OMR sheets before making the relevant responses available.

The proposed three-layer system would add another safeguard by maintaining a separate physical record of candidates' responses. It could therefore form part of a broader mechanism covering the storage, scanning, evaluation and verification of OMR answer sheets.

KEA is expected to provide details of the new arrangement in the relevant examination notifications if the three-layer OMR system is extended to other recruitment examinations in Karnataka.