A total of 405 exam centers across 21 districts in Gujarat are hosting the GPSC Class 1 and Class 2 preliminary examinations today, with nearly 97,000 students appearing for 244 posts. The exam is being held for 39 posts under Class 1 and 168 under Class 2. The preliminary exam is scheduled from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Unlike the usual schedule where candidates are allowed entry 30 minutes prior, today students have been permitted to enter exam centers 1 hour and 45 minutes in advance. This change has been made considering the intense heat during peak afternoon hours, ensuring students have ample time to settle in comfortably.
Authorities have coordinated closely to ensure smooth conduct of the exams. GPSC officials held discussions with district-level authorities to make arrangements for student comfort and exam integrity. Five identity proofs will be accepted at exam centers : Voter ID, Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Passport, and Driving License. Fingerprints of candidates will be taken on the OMR sheet for verification. Candidates carrying alternative identification may still be allowed to appear, but if considered suspicious, a post-exam investigation may be conducted.
Special provisions have been made for disabled candidates, including wheelchair accessibility and ground floor seating. For them, 9 posts under Class 1 and 28 posts under Class 2 are being filled through this examination. To maintain transparency, sealed question paper packets are opened in the presence of two candidates, whose signatures are recorded. Similarly, once the OMR sheets are sealed post-exam, the signatures of two students will again be taken on the envelope to ensure integrity.
Last Thursday, a video conference was held with officials from all districts to give final instructions regarding the examination arrangements. CCTV cameras have been activated at all centers to ensure strict surveillance inside exam halls. Security measures have also been put in place to safeguard candidates’ belongings.
