Railway Board Announces Centralized CBT for Departmental Promotions

In a significant move towards streamlining departmental promotions, the Railway Board conducted a high-level meeting today, deciding that all departmental promotion examinations will now be conducted by the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) through a centralized Computer-Based Test (CBT). To ensure uniformity and transparency, all zonal railways will prepare an examination calendar, with tests scheduled strictly as per this calendar.

The decision comes after years of successfully conducted, transparent, and fair examinations by the RRB, which have been highly appreciated for their efficiency and credibility. Since 2015, over 7 crore candidates have appeared for RRB-conducted CBTs without any reported instances of paper leaks, impersonation, remote log-ins, or use of spy devices.

Unmatched Transparency and Security in RRB Examinations

Robust Examination Conduct System

RRB follows a stringent process to ensure the integrity of its examinations. This includes:

• Selection of Examination Conducting Agency: Through an open tender system, adhering to Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) criteria.
• Certifications and Eligibility: The agencies must have ISO, CERT-IN, and CMMI certifications, along with financial stability and a track record of conducting large-scale examinations.
• Stringent Examination Center Auditing: Railway teams conduct thorough audits, ensuring compliance with strict infrastructure and security standards, including 100% CCTV coverage.

High-Security Infrastructure

• Exam Centers: Minimum 250-node capacity, isolated from commercial and residential areas, with power backup.
• Technical Specifications: Secure servers with a minimum CPU speed of 1.5 GHz, 4 GB RAM, and a 1024×768 screen resolution. Workstations have disabled USB ports, proxies, and internet access.
• Encrypted Question Papers: Papers are encrypted using 256-bit encryption and decrypted only upon candidate login.
• Randomized Allocation: Candidates receive exam city details ten days prior, with specific venue details disclosed just four days before the exam. Lab and node assignments are randomized to prevent malpractice.

Unparalleled Security Measures at Examination Centers

• Candidate Verification: Biometric attendance (fingerprint and digital) at multiple checkpoints, Aadhaar-based authentication, and handwriting samples collected at each stage.
• Strict Anti-Cheating Measures: Hand-held metal detector frisking, three-tier invigilation system (ECA, Railway officers, and surprise Railway vigilance checks), and real-time monitoring through IP-based CCTV surveillance.
• Activity Tracking: Every mouse click and keystroke recorded with a timestamp for audit purposes.

Ensuring Fair Evaluation and Candidate Accountability

• Unique Question Paper Generation: No two candidates receive the same sequence of questions and answer choices, ensuring fairness.
• Post-Exam Transparency: Candidates are provided with their question papers, answer booklets, and answer keys, with an opportunity to raise objections.
• Eligibility Verification: Critical candidate data, including caste, certificate details, mobile number, identification marks, photograph, signature, and qualifications, are verified. Admit cards include barcodes to prevent fraudulent applications.

With these meticulous security protocols and fair examination practices, RRB has set an unparalleled benchmark for conducting large-scale competitive exams with transparency and efficiency. This new centralized CBT model for departmental promotions is expected to further enhance the credibility and fairness of the railway examination system.