The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) has come under scrutiny after serious irregularities were discovered in the evaluation of a recruitment examination conducted for senior posts in the State Planning Board. The controversy has prompted the Commission to cancel the existing rank list, order a fresh evaluation of answer scripts and initiate an internal vigilance enquiry to determine how the lapse occurred.The issue has raised concerns over the transparency and credibility of the recruitment process, particularly as one appointment had already been made based on the now-cancelled rank list.
What triggered the Kerala PSC evaluation controversy ?
The controversy surfaced after K Shyam Krishna, who secured the third rank in the recruitment examination, obtained a copy of his evaluated answer script after questioning the marks awarded to him.On reviewing the script, he discovered that answers to Questions 9 to 18 in the 100-mark descriptive examination had not been evaluated. He subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the Kerala PSC, prompting the Commission to verify the allegation.During its preliminary examination, the PSC reportedly found that the same set of 10 questions had remained unevaluated in the answer scripts of all 228 candidates who appeared for the examination, indicating that the lapse was not limited to a single candidate.
Which recruitment examination is involved?
The disputed examination was conducted on July 13, 2023, for recruitment to three senior positions in the State Planning Board:
- Chief (Industry and Infrastructure)
- Chief (Perspective Planning)
- Chief (Planning Coordination)
These are senior government posts carrying a basic monthly salary of approximately Rs 1.25 lakh. Although the examination was conducted in 2023, the rank list was published on May 31, 2025.
What action has Kerala PSC taken?
Following a meeting on Monday, the Kerala PSC announced a series of corrective measures to address the irregularities.The Commission has cancelled the existing rank list and ordered a fresh evaluation of the 10 answers that had remained unassessed. Based on this reassessment, a revised rank list will be prepared.The PSC has also directed a comprehensive re-evaluation of all answer scripts to determine whether the lapse resulted from human error, deliberate manipulation or the involvement of any official in the evaluation process.An internal vigilance enquiry has also been ordered, with the Superintendent of Police (SP) of the Commission’s vigilance wing leading the investigation.What happens to appointments already made?One appointment had already been made from the now-cancelled rank list. Arun J. Prathap, who secured the first rank in the examination, was appointed as Chief of the Industry and Infrastructure Division last year.The Commission has not yet clarified whether the revised evaluation and fresh rank list will have any bearing on appointments that have already been made.
Tribunal seeks explanations
The controversy gained wider attention after media reports highlighted the alleged evaluation lapses. The matter has since reached the Kerala Administrative Tribunal, which has directed both the Kerala government and the Kerala Public Service Commission to submit their explanations within three weeks.With the rank list cancelled, answer scripts set for fresh evaluation and a vigilance investigation underway, the controversy has emerged as one of the most significant recruitment-related issues faced by the Kerala PSC in recent years, raising important questions about evaluation procedures and institutional accountability.
