BHUBANESWAR/BERHAMPUR: Continuing the recent trend of cancellations and postponement of competitive examinations over irregularities and paper leaks, the state government on Tuesday announced the deferment of written test for the Combined Police Service Examination 2024.
Originally scheduled for October 5 and 6, the examination was to be conducted for the recruitment of sub-inspectors (SIs) in the Odisha Police. This is for the third time that the recruitment test of SIs has been postponed.
The decision to keep the exams on hold came hours after Berhampur police intercepted three buses near Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh on Monday night and detained 120 candidates, who were allegedly being taken to Hyderabad for ‘special coaching’ arranged by the private agency conducting the recruitment test. Sources said all detained candidates are being interrogated by the Berhampur police. Further details in this matter are awaited.
A statement issued by the Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB) on the orders of its chairman Santosh Kumar Upadhyaya said the written examination of CPSE 2024 has been “postponed for some unforeseen development”. Fresh dates for the examination will be announced later, it added.
While the OPRB remained tight-lipped over the immediate cause of the postponement, sources said that some irregularities were detected following which the decision was taken.
Earlier in the day, the OPRB had issued a press statement stating, “It has come to our notice that some mischievous elements are trying to involve some candidates in illegal activities like malpractice in written examination on payment of bribe. The OPRB is committed to ensure free, fair and transparent recruitment examination for CPSE 2024. Taking and giving bribe are criminal offences. Stringent action will be taken against all involved in such malpractice,” it added.
The Board said it is thoroughly inquiring into the reports of malpractice and requested all to cooperate and provide any such information available at their end.
Expressing shock over the development, leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik said it pointed towards a complete failure of governance under BJP. “This is the fourth recruitment examination to be scrapped since July 2025 amid allegations of malpractice and question paper leaks. The BJP government needs to fix all issues immediately to restore the trust of people,” he said.
Naveen said on July 20, the Special OTET-2025 was cancelled just hours before exams over alleged paper leak. Similarly, on July 30, the Odisha Subordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) cancelled its combined recruitment examination for revenue inspectors, assistant revenue inspectors, Amins and ICDS supervisors which was scheduled between August 1 and September 4, citing irregularities in the preliminary process.
“On August 22, the rescheduled Special OTET-2025 was postponed again with the Board of Secondary Education citing ‘unavoidable circumstances’, leaving aspirants frustrated. These repeated disruptions highlight a troubling pattern in Odisha’s recruitment system, undermining trust and affecting lakhs of job seekers across the state,” he stated.