Patna: The Railway Board has announced that the railway recruitment board (RRB) will conduct all exams for departmental promotions across various railway zones through computer-based tests (CBT). This decision comes in the wake of a recent paper leakage scandal and a CBI raid on the chief loco inspector written exams held under the DDU division of the East Central Railway (ECR). According to a Railway Board official, the decision was made after a thorough review of the incident where it was revealed that the exams had been compromised, leading to the intervention of the CBI and arrest of 26 people in this connection. “The raid at DDU division with locations at Gaya and DDU (Mughalsarai) unearthed a network of malpractice that had tainted the integrity of the recruitment process, prompting the Railway Board to seek a more secure, transparent and modern system for conducting exams,” he said. The ECR’s chief public relations officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra told this newspaper on Thursday that the CBT will be integrated with aadhaar-based authentication, ensuring that only the intended candidates appear for the exams. “Additionally, biometric attendance will be implemented at all test centres to tighten security further and avoid impersonation,” the CPRO said adding that this move aims to restore faith in the promotion process while safeguarding the interests of candidates who wish to advance in their careers based on merit. Moreover, the Railway Board has decided to maintain a uniform examination calendar across all zonal railways in the country. “This will standardise the process and prevent discrepancies, ensuring that all employees have equal opportunity and access to promotional exams regardless of their location,” Chandra said, adding that the Board emphasised the need for a “transparent, secure and fair” approach to departmental exams and assured that such measures would significantly reduce the possibility of any future malpractices. In addition, the implementation of CBT for departmental promotions is expected to be rolled out in the coming months with detailed guidelines and schedules to be shared with all zonal railways. “This marks a pivotal moment in the Indian Railways’ efforts to modernise its recruitment and promotion procedures while restoring public trust in its processes,” he said.
