Applicants shocked to find seat numbers, exam centres changed

After causing inconvenience to aspirants appearing for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examination last time around, the examination board goofed up again.u00a0Applicants appearing for the prelim examination conducted by the MPSC for police sub inspector's post got a rude shock when they discovered that their seat numbers and examination centres were changed last minute without prior intimation.

Chaos: Frustrated applicants can be seen outside Fattechand Jain Vidyalaya in Chinchwad. Pic/Navnath Kapel

Students found out about this folly after they reached their examination centre yesterday only to be disappointed. "Two days ago when I took a printout of my hall ticket, my centre was Fattechand Jain Vidyalaya in Chinchwad. But when I reached there for my exam today morning (Sunday), in the last 12 hours, MPSC had changed seat numbers of many students, and subsequently the seating arrangement too.

In some cases the exam centre was also changed from Chinchwad to Parvati. Fortunately my exam centre remained the same only my class was changed but I saw that many fellow applicants were frustrated and panicked," Shailesh Harde, who was giving his third attempt for MPSC exam, said.

Same story this year
"Though this time I was lucky, I had experienced the tension of finding newly allotted centre last time. I belong to Sangamner, thus not familiar with the city. MPSC should at least consider these valid concerns and avoid such mismanagement in the future,"Hard\FOTOWAREToCorrection_NPN25H132593.jpge added.

Despite many attempts, MPSC Chairperson Sudhir Thakare remained unavailable for comment. City branch manager at Study Circle, Mahesh Mane said, "Last time also MPSC management had done a similar mistake of changing seating arrangement few hours before the exam was to begin."

Kailas Bhalekar, faculty member at Unique Academy, a city-based coaching institute said, "The problem of change in exam centre (on Sunday) without intimating students was not restricted to a particular centre as we received calls from many students complaining about this problem."

"How can MPSC authorities change seating arrangement after providing hall tickets online? How can they expect that after taking printouts students would check the website before leaving home for the exam," he questioned.

There are about 35 MPSC exam centres in the state and Pune is one of the popular choices for students belonging to areas in and around the city. Around 20,000 students were expected to appear for the exam yesterday.

"Many students prefer to come to the city to prepare for the exams. So students belonging to many adjacent districts and talukas prefer Pune than their home district to appear for the exam," Bhalekar added.u00a0