By Our Correspondent
Lucknow: The largest police recruitment exam in the history of Uttar Pradesh concluded safely on Saturday, setting a new standard for secure and transparent examinations. The Yogi government’s meticulous and robust preparations ensured that the process became a benchmark for the entire country.
To ensure the integrity of the examination, the government deployed an array of resources, combining manpower with cutting-edge technology. The security arrangements, both inside and outside the exam centers, kept cheaters and solver gangs at bay.
The enforcement of the newly implemented Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act-24, aimed at preventing paper leaks, had a significant impact, contributing to the smooth conduct of the exam.
Additionally, UP Police maintained vigilant monitoring across various platforms, including WhatsApp and social media, with intelligence agencies on 24-hour alert to preempt any potential issues.
Highlights
- CM Yogi’s foolproof plan thwarts the efforts of solver gangs and paper leak mafias in State’s largest recruitment exam
- Advanced technology and manpower were deployed on the CM’s instructions to ensure a copy-free and secure exam
- CM Yogi congratulates candidates on the safe completion of the exam via ‘X’
- 16,440 rooms across 1,174 centers were equipped with CCTV and monitored by Artificial Intelligence
- Over 2,300 magistrates and more than 1 lakh police personnel were deployed; Aadhaar verification was done for all candidates
- The impact of the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act-2024 was evident
Over 32 lakh candidates participated in this exam, which was conducted over five days in two phases. The Yogi government upheld transparency and integrity through unprecedented measures, including holding the exam exclusively in government schools to further ensure fairness.
Every necessary measure was taken to prevent any inconvenience to the candidates. To achieve this, 2,300 magistrates and 1,97,859 police personnel were deployed, while CCTVs equipped with artificial intelligence were installed to monitor the proceedings.
Following instructions from CM Yogi, the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board installed CCTV cameras equipped with Artificial Intelligence in 16,440 rooms across 1,174 centers to ensure a smooth examination process. This technology ensured any irregularities, such as the absence of room inspectors, were promptly addressed by the board’s control room.
Data analysis was also a key part of the exam’s integrity measures. Candidate data was matched within half an hour of the paper’s start in each shift. Any discrepancies led to immediate action, with lists of suspects provided to nodal officers for follow-up. This thorough approach not only minimized cheating, but also resulted in the arrest of individuals attempting to game the system, reinforcing the examination’s integrity.
The vigilant and stringent security measures implemented by the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board were so effective that not a single unauthorized activity occurred during the examination.
74 observer police officers deployed at the examination centers
To ensure the safety and integrity of the police recruitment examination, an extensive security apparatus was put in place. A total of 1,97,859 policemen were deployed, including 25 companies of PAC and 8 companies of CAPF. The deployment also included 137 Additional Superintendents of Police, 522 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 47,587 Head Constables, 86,844 Constables, and 26,582 Women Constables.
Additionally, 3,876 inspectors, comprising 3,740 male and 136 female inspectors, and 32,311 sub-Inspectors, including 30,220 male and 2,091 female sub-inspectors, were assigned to oversee the examination. To further bolster the examination’s security, 74 observer police officers were stationed at the examination centers.
Jammers installed to disable electronic gadgets
To ensure the transparency and integrity of the police recruitment examination, advanced technology was employed at every stage. At the examination centers, rigorous procedures for candidate verification were implemented, including physical frisking, security checks with Hand-Held Metal Detectors (HHMD), and biometric verification through fingerprint and facial recognition.
For cases where facial recognition failed, additional verification methods, including capturing FRIS, were utilized. If any discrepancies arose in facial recognition, Aadhaar authentication was carried out to confirm the candidate’s identity.
Moreover, jammers were deployed at all centers to block electronic devices such as mobile phones and Bluetooth equipment. CCTVs were installed in both the examination halls and the centers, with live feeds transmitted to the control rooms of the examination center, district control room, and the recruitment board headquarters to ensure real-time monitoring.
Photocopy machine shops and cyber cafes around the center were closed
In the 67 districts where police recruitment exam centers were established, crucial and sensitive areas around these centers were charted in the UP-112 PRV (Police Response Vehicle) system. PRVs were continuously patrolling these locations to enhance vigilance, with high-level coordination between the Intelligence Department, STF, and district police to identify and monitor potential anti-social elements.
Additionally, loudspeakers were used around examination centers to enforce guidelines regarding the prohibition of mobile phones, IT gadgets, and other unauthorized materials. A sufficient number of police personnel, both male and female, were stationed at entry points to assist with candidate searches.
Special surveillance was implemented around photocopy shops, cyber cafes, and motorcycle stands near the centers. For security reasons, these photocopy shops and cyber cafes were temporarily closed to prevent any misuse.
District Magistrate deployed as District Supervisor
Rajiv Krishna, Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB), highlighted the extensive preparations made for the examination as directed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He detailed that at the district level, the District Magistrate served as the District Supervisor (Magistrate), overseeing various administrative tasks including the deployment of sector and static magistrates at each examination center.
Additionally, each center had an assistant center supervisor along with a static magistrate. The Additional District Magistrate was designated as the Assistant Nodal Officer (Administration), and a sector magistrate was assigned to three examination centers.
He added, “Additionally, flying squads were organized to ensure the examination was free of cheating. Deputy Superintendents of Police were assigned as center supervisors at locations with over nine hundred candidates. For centers with fewer than nine hundred candidates, Inspectors were appointed, and Sub-Inspectors were designated for centers with up to seven hundred candidates.”
He further stated that, to maintain the examination’s integrity, 50 percent of the personnel at each center were appointed by the District Magistrate and the remaining 50 percent by the Center Administrator (Principal). This included Examination Assistants First and Second, who were appointed by both the District Magistrate and the Center Administrator. Additionally, one invigilator was assigned per twelve candidates, and assistant invigilators were also deployed.
Hotspots were checked with 67 drone cameras
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a high-level meeting regarding the police recruitment examination, in which he discussed in detail about the preparations for the examination. During this, he had instructed the officials to pay special attention to every small aspect so that there is no disturbance in the examination. In such a situation, preparations for the examination were completed as per the wishes of CM Yogi.
Under this, Additional Director General of Police STF, Traffic, Railways, Dial-112 along with ADG of all zones, Police Commissioner, IG, DIG, SSP and SP remained alert in their respective districts. This time, to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination, special attention was kept on the CCTV cameras on the way to the examination centers. Along with this, additional new CCTVs were installed at highly sensitive places. At the same time, checking was arranged with 67 drone cameras at the identified hotspots.
Special focus was on crowded areas
SPs, ASPs, and COs were designated as supervisors to ensure strict security at the examination centers. Additionally, security officers were stationed inside the centers, and both administrative and police officials conducted thorough inspections, paying close attention to even the smallest details.
In response to the large number of candidates and the associated crowd, a substantial police presence was deployed at the centers. Coordination with the Education Department, examination center managers, and related departments was also managed effectively.
Furthermore, the situation of candidates and their families, from their arrival in the district days before the exam to their departure afterward, was assessed to ensure appropriate police arrangements were made.
Comprehensive arrangements were implemented to manage the crowd at examination centers and surrounding areas such as railway stations, metro stations, bus stands, taxi stands, hotels, and restaurants. Coordination with operators, managers, and key personnel was established to ensure continuous monitoring of these locations. Gazetted officers and magistrates were also assigned to duty at the examination centers.
To secure confidential materials, a sufficient number of CCTV cameras were installed in dedicated strong rooms, ensuring 24×7 live monitoring. Additionally, each center was provided with a dedicated vehicle and a sector magistrate, accompanied by armed police personnel, for the safe transportation and custody of confidential materials.
CM Yogi congratulates the candidates on the successful completion of the Constable Civil Police Examination on X
*Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his congratulations to the candidates on the successful completion of the UP Police Recruitment Examination. On social media, he wrote: “Hearty congratulations to all the candidates for the successful, fair, and transparent completion of the written examination-2023 for over 60,200 constable civil police positions!
I extend my best wishes to all the energetic and disciplined participants, hoping they achieve their desired results and a bright future.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved, including the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board and the district administrations across the state, for their crucial role in the successful and safe conduct of the world’s largest civil police recruitment examination!”*
Recruitment Board expresses gratitude to CM Yogi, wishes candidates a bright future
Rajiv Krishna, Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board, expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the successful execution of the recruitment examination. He also extended his best wishes to all the candidates. In a message posted on the social media platform X, the board stated:
“Under the dynamic leadership and guidance of Honorable Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji, the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board successfully conducted the five-day Constable Recruitment-2023 examination. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all candidates for their discipline and seriousness throughout this important event. The board will soon advance to the next stages of the recruitment process and will update candidates accordingly on the website. We wish all the candidates a bright future.”
