By Y.S. Rana ,Chandigarh : Though not exactly of the magnitude of “CAT, MAT or IITs”, a similar-looking, Punjab set a new benchmark in e-Governance success story is scripted by the on-line examination, introduced for its police force. Perhaps the first-of-its-kind initiative enables information technology to reach out the end user of its force.
Disclosing here ADGP, IT and Communication, S.M. Sharma, its objective was fair, transparent and instant ‘online’ system facilitated simultaneous and instant screening constables at more than 30 different training centres set up all over the state. So far 4000 police personnel have passed out the examination. “Ninety per cent of police personnel are novice to IT and totally unknown to new concept. Our aim is to enhance the knowledge of IT which is important with the change of time,” said Mr Sharma. Considering the overwhelming success and benefits of the online test, police force in Delhi, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh have evinced keen interest in switching over to this practice. Even National Police Academy, Hyderabad, started developing requisite Question Banks to replicate it for various examinations.
The personnel are trained in different courses. After training they are put to test by on-line examination. “The question bank software in four categories—easy, medium, difficult and very difficult, has been developed by their own team. Questions are of objective types with four options. The candidates have to tick the right answer.
To gauge the knowledge of law as well as of police practices and procedures constitute the core of online examination.
Centrally controlled system has questions ranging from 25 to 50. The half-an-hour duration system is paperless, supervision free, hackle free and user friendly. Within half-an-hour result has been declared. Those who scored above 80 per cent marks are awarded Grade ‘A;’ between 70 to 80 per cent Grade ‘B;’ between 60 to 70 per cent Grade ‘C’ and between 50 to 60 Grade ‘D.’
Those who could not score any grade, they are asked to reappear in the examination. Mr Sharma stated that those who stood first in Grade ‘A’ in their batches were given commendation certificate Class I that would be handy at times of their promotions or training.
He further stated that only 20 to 25 per cent candidates could secure Grade ‘A.’ Maximum number of candidates scored Grade ‘B.’ Performance of every examinee is sent to supervisory staff for their records and information.
Registration is done at the police headquarters and on-line examination is held every Saturday in 30 training centres located all over the state. “The system has been very successful and effective. To reduce the workload, we are planning to stagger it into four zones,” said Mr Sharma. EOM.