Railway Ministry Centralizes Promotion Exams Amid Scandal

The Railway Ministry has tasked the Railway Recruitment Board with conducting departmental promotion exams through a centralized computer-based test. This decision follows the arrest of 26 railway officials over exam paper leaks. The move aims to enhance transparency and fairness, utilizing RRB's extensive experience in secure, unbiased examination processes.

In a groundbreaking initiative, the Railway Ministry has entrusted the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) with the responsibility of managing all departmental promotion examinations via a centralized, computer-based system, according to official reports on Wednesday.

This strategic decision was influenced by the recent arrest of 26 officials from the East Central Railway in Uttar Pradesh's Mughal Sarai. They were implicated in leaking exam papers, with authorities seizing Rs 1.17 crore in cash, which triggered a call for more stringent exam processes.

Previously handled internally by railway divisions and zones, these exams have been marred by allegations of corruption and malpractice. The Ministry highlighted RRB's decade-long experience in ensuring transparency and integrity in examinations, which swayed the decision. The agency boasts a record of processing over 7.7 crore candidates since 2015 without security breaches.