2 weeks ago
SIT Flags Major Lapses in APPSC Group-I Exam Evaluation
A very important exam called the APPSC Group-1 test helps choose people for government jobs in Andhra Pradesh.
Many people took the test in 2018, but some worried that their answers were not marked fairly.
A special team of officers, called the SIT, was asked to check what happened.
The team gave a big report to the High Court about the problems it found.
Answer papers were kept at a private holiday resort for 84 days, which is very unusual.
Many answer sheets had white correction fluid on them, which can mean marks were changed.
The team also said some people may have signed papers meant for other people, which is called impersonation.
Some rules were not followed when the exams were marked.
The team cleared some of the worries, but said more checks are still needed.
The investigation is not finished yet, so we do not yet know the whole story.
The SIT's final report to the AP High Court flagged serious procedural lapses, unauthorised alterations and alleged impersonation in the evaluation of APPSC Group-1 answer scripts.
The 2021 digital evaluation was introduced without the then APPSC chairman's approval, only 72 of 158 approved evaluators assessed scripts, and TrueGrader was engaged without a tender.
Answer scripts were kept at the private Haailand resort for 84 days, where data entry operators allegedly signed OMR slips in spaces meant for authorised evaluators.
White correction fluid was found on 169 slips, and alterations were found on 160 of 165 selected candidates' slips and 153 of 161 unselected candidates' slips.
The SIT cleared some allegations, such as certain barcode mismatches, but with seven forensic reports pending it called for further investigation and said its conclusions were prima facie.
- Who
- The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which submitted its final report to the Andhra Pradesh High Court, probed the APPSC Group-1 recruitment examination and named former APPSC secretary PSR Anjaneyulu and chairman D Gautam Sawang in alleged irregularities.
- What
- The report flagged serious procedural lapses, unauthorised alterations, alleged forgery and impersonation across the digital and manual evaluation of answer scripts.
- Where
- Andhra Pradesh, including digital evaluation and manual valuations conducted at the private Haailand resort and in Vijayawada.
- When
- The report was submitted to the AP High Court recently; the exercises it covers took place in 2021 and 2022, and a criminal case was registered in April 2025.
- Why
- To scientifically examine allegations of tampering and irregularities in the Group-1 recruitment process following High Court directions and to fix responsibility.
Irregularities Indicate Tampering
Findings Not Yet Conclusive
Assessment of answer-script alterations
Irregularities Indicate Tampering
Widespread alterations, including 160 of 165 selected candidates' OMR slips altered, white correction fluid on 169 slips, and forensic handwriting linking chief examiners to unauthorised changes, indicate serious tampering.
Findings Not Yet Conclusive
The SIT cleared some allegations, including certain barcode mismatches and genuine corrections in totaling, and said the rise in third evaluations (10.2% vs 0.45%) alone could not establish wrongdoing.
Status of the investigation
Irregularities Indicate Tampering
The final report to the High Court documents serious procedural lapses, unauthorised evaluators, alleged forgery and impersonation, and recommends further investigation into those offences.
Findings Not Yet Conclusive
Seven forensic reports are still pending, the SIT flagged internal inconsistencies in its own concluding figures, and it stated its legal conclusions are prima facie and the investigation incomplete.
Key facts
- Report recipient
- Andhra Pradesh High Court
- Recruitment notification
- 2018, 169 Group-I posts
- Applications received
- More than 1.14 lakh
- Exhibits examined
- 736
- Witness statements
- 173
- Days answer scripts kept at Haailand resort
- 84
- Slips with white correction fluid
- 169
- Alterations in selected candidates' slips
- 160 of 165
Quotes
SIT press release
Official statement from the Special Investigation Team
“The SIT found that the decision to introduce digital evaluation, as well as the panel of evaluators engaged for the exercise did not carry the mandatory approval of the APPSC Chairman”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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