Lucknow institute cancels nursing exam over lapses
Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow has cancelled a recruitment exam for nursing officers and hospital attendants. About 8,500 candidates were hit after some were allegedly let in without biometric checks. The institute has asked the State’s Special Task Force to probe. Read it to revise exam integrity laws and biometrics.
- Institute
- SGPGIMS, Lucknow
- Candidates hit
- About 8,500
- Posts
- About 1,700
- Probe
- Special Task Force
The nursing exam cancellation: what happened?
Biometric checks exist so that the right person sits the exam. When they are skipped, every honest candidate loses.
- SGPGIMS cancelled the offline second-round exam held on Sunday at seven centres.
- Some candidates were allegedly allowed in without biometric checks; complaints came mainly from three Lucknow centres.
- About 86,000 people had applied for about 1,700 posts.
- Director R.K. Dhiman said a fresh date will be announced in advance.
How is recruitment exam cheating handled in Uttar Pradesh?
Uttar Pradesh passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 to punish leaks and cheating in State recruitment exams.
The State’s Special Task Force investigates organised crime, including exam rackets.
Biometric checks confirm identity using fingerprints, iris, face or voice.
How was the exam held?
| Phase | Mode | Note |
|---|---|---|
| First round | Online | Screening |
| Second round | Offline, seven centres | Cancelled |
Which laws and Articles apply?
- Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
- Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 for central exams.
- Article 16: equal opportunity in public jobs.
- SGPGIMS: an institute set up under a State law.
Why does the nursing exam cancellation matter?
| Angle | What to note |
|---|---|
| Fairness | Article 16: equal chance in public jobs. |
| Health system | Nursing posts matter for patient care. |
| Technology | Biometrics fail if staff skip them. |
| Law | State anti-cheating law applies. |
What are the problems with the nursing exam cancellation?
- Cancelled exams waste time and money for thousands.
- Centre staff can be bribed to skip checks.
- Probes take long and few are punished.
- Repeat exams delay hiring.
What should be done next on the nursing exam cancellation?
- Use tamper-proof biometric logs at every gate.
- Train and rotate centre staff.
- Finish the probe quickly and publish results.
- Give candidates free travel for the re-exam.
What can Prelims ask on the nursing exam cancellation?
Prelims probability: Expect a statement question on biometric identification: iris, retina and voice can all be used along with fingerprints.
- Biometrics: fingerprint, iris, retina, face and voice.
- Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
- Article 16: equal opportunity in public jobs.
- SGPGIMS is in Lucknow.
- Special Task Force handles organised crime.
How to write about the nursing exam cancellation in Mains
Practice question (15 marks, 250 words): Repeated recruitment exam failures hurt youth and the State. Suggest steps to ensure clean recruitment in Uttar Pradesh.
- Intro: SGPGIMS case.
- Causes of lapses.
- Legal tools: 2024 Act, STF.
- Technology fixes.
- Conclusion: trust in public jobs.
Ready lines for your answer
- A skipped check is a stolen chance.
- Fair recruitment builds a fair State.
Quotable data pointAbout 86,000 applicants for about 1,700 posts.
Photo: CDC Global, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Exam angle
Prelims: biometrics. · Mains GS-II: exam integrity.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
Under the Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, the maximum punishment for paper leak offences is:
Answer (c) & explanation
The Uttar Pradesh law provides for imprisonment up to life and a fine of up to ₹1 crore for paper leaks and organised cheating.
Questions students ask about this
Why was the nursing exam cancelled?
Some candidates were allegedly let in without biometric checks.
How many candidates were affected?
About 8,500 candidates in the second round.
Who will probe the lapses?
The Special Task Force of Uttar Pradesh.
Which State law punishes exam cheating?
The Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.