West Bengal Introduces OMR Carbon Copies to Ensure Transparent Recruitment

The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, has announced a series of measures aimed at ensuring greater transparency in the state’s recruitment process, including the mandatory provision of carbon copies of Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets to candidates appearing for competitive examinations. The announcement was made during a government-organised job fair held in Sealdah, central Kolkata, on May 23, according to officials.

Addressing the gathering, Adhikari said the reform is intended to eliminate long-standing allegations of nepotism and corruption in public recruitment. He stated that candidates would now receive carbon copies of their OMR answer sheets to ensure full transparency in the evaluation process. He argued that the absence of such documentation in earlier examinations had contributed to mistrust in the system and widespread allegations of irregularities.

The Chief Minister also indicated that a revised recruitment policy is being prepared under the new administration, which may be introduced in the upcoming Budget Session of the state Assembly. He emphasised that the new framework would prioritise merit-based selection, with stricter rules governing written exams, academic scoring, and oral interviews. According to him, the aim is to prevent discretionary marking practices that have previously raised concerns.

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In particular, Adhikari highlighted planned reforms in the oral interview process, stating that minimum qualifying marks would be introduced to reduce subjective evaluation. He alleged that earlier recruitment systems had allowed irregularities in interview-based scoring, which he claimed resulted in unqualified candidates securing government jobs. He further stated that reservation policies for SC, ST, OBC, and differently-abled candidates would be implemented strictly in accordance with constitutional provisions.

The Chief Minister also criticised the previous administration, alleging large-scale corruption in recruitment processes that led to the cancellation of nearly 26,000 teaching appointments. He claimed that these issues had damaged the state’s reputation nationally and affected public trust in government hiring. According to him, even central agencies such as the Railways and paramilitary forces had become more cautious in recruitment practices after observing irregularities in the state.

Concluding his remarks, Adhikari said the government’s primary objective is to establish a “100 per cent corruption-free” recruitment system in West Bengal. He asserted that the reforms are designed to restore credibility, ensure fair opportunities for candidates, and strengthen transparency in public employment processes across the state.

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