Candidates to get computerized second copy of OMR
Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAY 21
CATCHING up with the fast moving world of Information Technology, the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) has not only made forms availability of various competitive exams online but has also decided to hand over the computerized copy of answer sheets to the candidates after the exams.
Talking to this correspondent, NPSC Chairman Kuhupoyo Puroh said that the changes have been brought about in order to do away with the complexity of filling of forms by candidates as well as avoid problems of scrutiny of forms, which at times becomes difficult manually.He said since Nagaland Information Centre (NIC) is the nodal department for the online filling of NPSC forms, now the candidates can approach the NIC/DIC in their respective areas to access the internet, fill up and submit the forms online. Forms can also be filled and submitted through personal internet connections, he said.
Hoever the concerns of connectivity in rural areas appears to have been overlookd.
Citing that over 16000 candidates apply for various services, some rejected because of wrong entries by candidates while filling the forms, online forms will highlight the wrong entries and it won’t be accepted unless correct entries are made online”.
“A candidate can re-apply unless accepted online, which is not possible manually,” he said.
“So now once the forms are accepted online, it cannot be rejected,” he said.
Besides, online filling of forms also saves time and money of the candidate spent in manual submission of forms, he said, adding that this is a step forward into the IT world.
Meanwhile, taking yet another step ahead, Puroh said with a view to help the candidate appearing for the competitive exams recheck their own answers, the NPSC has decided to hand over computerized copy of the answer sheet to the candidate right after the exams are conducted.
He said first copy of the computerized Optical Mark Readership (OMR) will handed over to the candidates, which they can check after the Commission publishes the correct answers. The original copy will be taken for evaluation of marks, he said.
“This has been done with a view to avoid tampering of answer sheets, and also other possible attempts of corruption,” he added.
NPSC ‘online’ debate
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MAY 21
The NAGALAND Public Service Commission’s (NPSC) ‘online’ efforts of form submissions has evoked mised response.
The directions were meant to provide correct information, development and prove convenient. But with many remote areas remaining inaccessible to the technology, the initiative has left many in doubt over the system.
For candidates wiithout access to communication it is useless says Alex Beituo. With May 25th, the last date approaching there is only despair amongst the applicants.
Achumba Sangtam, Kiphire says the change is too sudden and an option especially for applicants in rural areas. should have been present.
The challenge is no less for those residing outside the state . An intending candidate from New Delhi sharing his experience says “I registered on the given official website and applied for the NPSC and even made payment. I checked in a few times, but on the 3rd or 4th day the website couldn’t recognize my user ID, which was in my name itself”.
He said he sent an email to the website helpline, but is yet to receive a reply. “Right now, I’m just worried This applicant also suggested that vital information should be send to the users e-mail, instead of the website inbox because if there are problems in the future such as this, it will be difficult for the user to be notified.
While appreciative of the new system, the voices from the remote areas also state they cannot afford to travel from their village to towns just in search of internet.
They said the success of an ‘online’ mode depends on internet speed, and reliability of connectivity, which again is dependent on steady and regular supply of power. The inconvenient truth for the youth is these parameters are simply not in place for the internet experience, which the NPSC has tried to leverage.
