After facing flak for SSC MTS exam 2017 paper leaks, printing incorrect admit cards and being unable to manage large scale examinations, the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), a Union government body to organise tests for recruiting junior level staff for the central government has finally cancelled the entire Multi Tasking Staff (Non-Technical) recruitment examination 2017 last week.
More than 6 million (Above 60 Lakh) candidates have applied for 8,300 Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff (MTS) posts in central government across India. Before taking this decision, SSC had already conducted two batches of tests on April 30 and May 14. Both of them were marred by controversies.
Test for three more batches was to be held on May 28, June 4 and June 11, 2017. But in a notification issued on May 23, the SSC said that the MTS (Non-Technical) examination, 2016 in the OMR based mode is being cancelled and the commission would conduct afresh examination online in the computer-based mode, tentatively during the month of September-October, 2017.
“The Commission has taken a decision to cancel the Multi-Tasking Staff (Non-Technical) Examination, 2016 in the OMR based mode for all 5 days (viz. the examinations already conducted on 30.4.2017 and14.5.2017, and to be conducted on 28.5.2017, 4.6.2017 and 11.6.2017),” said SSC.
“The said examination would now be conducted by the Commission afresh in the computer-based mode, tentatively during the month of September-October, 2017. The details in this regard would be hosted on the website of the Commission in due course,” added notification.
SSC MTS Exam 2017 Paper Leaks
Earlier on April 30, the first day of the SSC MTS exam 2017, Staff Selection Commission (SSC) found MTS Exam 2017 papers to be compromised. Hence, it cancelled the SSC MTS Exam 2017 of the afternoon shift which was held on April 30, 2017. Then SSC had said, “The re-examination for only those candidates who appeared in this shift will be held in due course and the candidates would be suitably informed.”
On April 30, 2017, before the commencement of the morning shift SSC MTS Exam 2017, the question paper with the key was found circulating on social media. Neetu Singh, director of KD Campus, coaching institution, uploaded some images of the question papers on her Facebook page and asked the students if this was the paper they received in the first shift which was held in the morning between 10 am – 12 am shifts. Initially, students couldn't confirm.
However, the paper turned out to be the same question paper that was distributed in the 2nd shift, from 2 pm – 4 pm. Singh in her Facebook page has urged the SSC and Prime Minister Office (PMO) to address the issue and take concrete actions against the culprits.
The more or less same thing was repeated in both the shifts of the next batch of examinations on May 14. On social media pages, the question papers of the SSC MTS Exam 2017 with some answers were uploaded after the commencement of the morning as well as the evening shifts. Therefore, SSC was forced to take cancel the examination.
“It has come to the notice of the Commission that on a social media page, the question papers of the MTS Examination 2016, with some answers were uploaded after the commencement of the morning as well as the evening sessions of the examination. The Commission is fully seized of the matter which is being closely investigated by the Investigating Agencies who are working on definite leads,” SSC had said.
“The Commission would be taking appropriate action against the vested interests in accordance with rules of the Commission and as per law. In the meantime, the MTS Examination will continue as per schedule,” it added.
However, five days before the next batch of the MTS examinations, on May 23 SSC decided to cancel the entire SSC MTS Exam 2017. In a statement, SSC said that the MTS (Non-Technical) examination, 2016 in the OMR based mode is being cancelled and the commission would conduct an afresh examination online in the computer-based mode, tentatively during the month of September-October, 2017.
SSC has not clarified the pattern and how the computer-based examination would be conducted. However, according to experts, the pattern and syllabus would more or less remain the same, only the mode of examination would change and that is likely to end the wrong practices and speed up the entire process of examination.
After a long delay, due to Supreme Court direction, SSC MTS Exam was announced. Candidates who have passed the matriculation examination or equivalent from a recognised board are eligible for the post of Multi Tasking Staff (Non-Technical).
SSC MTS Exam 2017 Online
The cancelled MTS Exam 2017 were being conducted in offline mode and candidates were allowed to take the question paper home. These exams had two papers – paper 1 and paper 2. Only the candidates who qualify in the paper were to be allowed to appear in paper 2 in December 2017.
The cancelled paper level was easy. According to reports, the quantitative aptitude section was easy to solve. Two questions were asked from the bar graph, two questions each from topics of Time and work, SI & CI, average and partnership, and percentage. Around twelve questions came from topics on mensuration, profit & loss, and speed distance & time.
The language English section had 50 questions and it was of moderate level. According to experts, the reasoning section was easy. Analogy, Arithmetic operations, series and classification were big parts.
The general awareness section was of moderate level. It had ten questions from Geography, eight from Biology & Physics, Economy, Polity & computers, and current affairs had five questions each.
Selection criteria for SSC MTS 2017
As per the cancelled SSC MTS 2017 exam patterns, SSC was to first publish the results of paper 1. Only those candidates who have qualified in paper 1 would have been allowed to seat for paper 2. Then those who would have appeared for paper 2 had to obtain a minimum cut off marks/qualifying marks set by SSC in order to be considered for merit. According to experts, these patterns are likely to remain the same but there is no clarity if SSC would conduct two papers or one paper.
