Editor,

I would like to draw the attention of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB), and the authorities concerned to the urgent need for stricter invigilation and better examination security during recruitment examinations.

I have appeared for multiple competitive examinations conducted by the APPSC over the past few years. During an APPSC examination in 2024, I witnessed two candidates seated in the front rows discussing answers during the examination. I noted down their roll numbers, and when the preliminary results were declared, I checked them and found that both had qualified. I do not claim that they qualified because of this incident alone, but it raised serious concerns about whether examinations are being monitored adequately.

Unfortunately, I witnessed a similar incident again during the TGT examination, 2026. During Paper A, two candidates were discussing answers during the examination. In Paper B I had to specifically request an invigilator to sit behind our last row, and even then they were discussing/showing papers to each other. An examinee should never have to remind invigilators to enforce examination rules.

The concern is even greater this time because there is no descriptive written examination. Selection depends mainly on the two objective papers, followed only by a 50-mark viva voce. If candidates secure sufficiently high marks in the written examination through unfair means, they may not even need a high viva score to secure selection. In such a competitive recruitment, even a few unfair marks can change the final merit list.

I am writing this letter not to expose any individual candidate but to raise questions about the manner in which the APPSC and the APSSB are conducting these important statewide examinations. Thousands of honest aspirants prepare sincerely and deserve a level playing field. It is unfair to those who compete honestly and uphold the ethical values that are taught throughout the BEd course.

This is a teacher recruitment examination. If candidates resort to unfair means even before entering the profession, one cannot help but ask: What values will they teach their future students?

I therefore request the APPSC and the APSSB to strengthen examination security by adopting measures such as:

# Strict and vigilant invigilation in every examination hall.

# Mandatory CCTV surveillance covering all examination rooms.

#Immediate action against candidates found using unfair means.

# Better training and accountability of invigilators.

# Consideration of computer-based testing (CBT), wherever feasible, to enhance transparency and minimize malpractice.

I wish to clarify that I am not seeking cancellation of the examination. My only request is that the authorities concerned take these shortcomings seriously and ensure that future examinations are conducted in a fair, transparent, and strictly monitored manner, so that merit alone determines selection.

A concerned aspirant