Centre tightens rules for use of scribes in competitive exams for differently-abled

new delhi: the centre has introduced stricter regulations governing the appointment of scribes for differently-abled candidates appearing in competitive examinations, citing complaints of irregularities and concerns over the credibility of the process.the union ministry of social justice and empowerment said instances had emerged where scribes, instead of merely assisting, were writing answers on their own without listening to the candidates. to curb such malpractices, the government has decided to gradually phase out the practice of differently-abled candidates appointing their own scribes.under the new guidelines, the central staff selection commission, national testing agency and other recruiting agencies have been directed to prepare a panel of approved scribes within two years. differently-abled candidates will be permitted to bring their own scribes only in unavoidable circumstances.the ministry further advised encouraging candidates to attempt exams independently with the help of assistive technologies such as screen-reading software, braille materials and laptops.additionally, the eligibility criteria for scribes have been tightened. the educational qualification of a scribe must now be lower than that prescribed for the post being filled, in order to prevent undue advantage to candidates.the move, the ministry said, seeks to strike a balance between accessibility and fairness in competitive examinations for persons with disabilities.