The Assam State government had suspended mobile internet connectivity for nearly four hours in 25 of the total 35 districts on Sunday for conducting the government jobs recruitment examinations to fill up around 30,000 Grade III and IV posts in various departments.
The mobile internet shutdown drew criticism. The Assam unit of the All India Professionals’ Congress said such measures to apparently curb cheating in recruitment exams for government jobs are ridiculous and comical when mobile phones were not allowed inside the examination centres.
Other States implementing the Internet Shutdown model:
Several districts in Rajasthan in 2021, including state capital Jaipur, Bikaner and Dausa, faced 12-hour mobile internet shutdown from 6 AM on account of the Patwari recruitment examination.
Reason behind the shutdown:
to curb malpractices during conduct of the recruitment exam
Issues with the shutdown:
Internet- enabled services, especially those linked to mobile apps,
stood completely disrupted during the day and the day’s
livelihood of those dependent on e-commerce platforms
was lost.
The day was rendered unproductive for cab
drivers and various online delivery service providers.
People also had a harrowing time in making online pay-
ments and other online transactions.
Emergency services were another area adversely hit by the shutdown.
For many people, routine as well as emergency activities – be it banking or booking a flight ticket or making a payment – are nowadays accomplished online and all
this stood paralysed for the day.
Way forward:
There are many ways with which to conduct an exam properly
and Sunday’s recruitment drive cannot be an exception under any circumstances.
Resorting to local jamming at the exam centres could be a convenient option
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