Chennai: The forthcoming Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission ( TNPSC) Group-4 exam in the state, scheduled for June 9, coincides with an important wedding day, leading to a shortage of videographers for recording at examination centers.
This year's Group-4 exam will fill 6,244 posts, and TNPSC is preparing for the large-scale event.
The exam requires thousands of examination centers across Tamil Nadu, with one center for every 300 to 350 candidates.
To prevent malpractice, video recording at all examination centers has been mandated.
District-wise tenders were issued, and contracts were signed to secure videographers.
However, contractors now face a significant issue: June 9 is a popular date for weddings and other special events, for which many videographers are already booked.
Videographers typically earn around Rs 4,000 or more for wedding assignments, while government contracts offer up to Rs 2,500 per videographer, with a maximum of Rs 1,500 going to the hired videographer after the contractor's commission. Consequently, videographers prefer higher-paying private events over government assignments.
The recording is crucial for monitoring entrances, surrounding areas, and verifying candidates' identities to ensure exam integrity. Video evidence is mandatory in addressing future complaints of misconduct or malpractice.
Now,there is a call to postpone the exam to a day without significant events like weddings. TNPSC is pressed to act swiftly whether to reschedule the exam or find alternative arrangements for video recording on June 9.
Failure to ensure video documentation could result in legal challenges for the Commission.