Patna: The Patna administration has pledged to ensure the Indian Economic Service (IES) and Indian Statistical Service (ISS) examinations, scheduled to begin on 20 June, are conducted in a malpractice-free and peaceful environment, with Commissioner Dr Chandrashekhar Singh stating that “dignity and integrity” will be maintained throughout the process.
Speaking at a preparatory meeting held at the Commissioner’s Office in Patna on Thursday, Dr Singh said that officials involved in the examination process had been fully briefed on the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) protocols. “All officers will remain alert, committed and prompt to uphold the sanctity of these national-level examinations,” he said, warning that any negligence would be met with “strict legal action”.
The examinations will take place over three days — 20, 21 and 22 June — across two shifts each day, at designated sub-centres in Patna. A total of 977 candidates are expected to sit the tests, with 402 appearing for IES and 575 for ISS.
To maintain law and order, the district administration has deployed a detailed structure of officials. Each sub-centre will have a local inspection officer and a static magistrate-cum-assistant supervisor. In addition, zonal magistrates will oversee pairs of sub-centres, and three standby magistrates will be stationed at the district control room. Police personnel will work alongside the magistrates, with further forces deployed for security and crowd management.
Commissioner Singh emphasised that officers must arrive at their assigned centres two hours before the start of the exam and remain until the conclusion of all exam-related duties. He also outlined several procedural mandates: the main gates of the exam centres must be shut 30 minutes before each shift begins (08:30 for the morning and 14:00 for the afternoon), and no candidate will be permitted entry thereafter. Similarly, early exits from the exam halls will not be allowed.
Other provisions include heat mitigation plans at exam centres, alongside arrangements for clean drinking water, lighting, and ventilation. Local inspection officers have been directed to visit their allotted venues a day in advance to assess preparedness and to ensure invigilators are performing their duties properly during examinations.
Officers are also expected to report attendance figures within 30 minutes of the start of each session to the Commissioner’s control room via designated telephone lines.
Present at the meeting were observers appointed by the UPSC, the Additional Secretary of the Commission, and other senior officials, all of whom were briefed on the Commission’s expectations for the smooth conduct of the examinations.
