NEW DELHI: The Jharkhand government has decided to impose a blanket ban on internet services across the state to prevent unfair practices in the Jharkhand General Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examination (JGGLCCE).
The internet ban will be invoked at 8.00 am, before being lifted off at 1.30 pm after the examination. The examination will be held at various examination centres in 24 districts on September 21 and 22.
The ban prohibits “mobile internet, mobile data and mobile Wi-Fi services of all service providers” throughout Jharkhand.
The government, however, has clarified that “voice calls and broadband connectivity based on fixed telephone lines may remain operational during the aforementioned period”.
Giving the reason for the ban decision, the Jharkhand government said: “It has been observed in previous instances that some unscrupulous individuals resorted to unfair practices utilising various mobile applications, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, X (Twitter), Telegram, and YouTube, which rely on Internet/Wi-Fi connectivity”.
“The government of Jharkhand seeks to eliminate any loopholes in the examination process that may raise doubts in the public mind regarding the integrity of the recruitment process, potentially leading to law and order issues that could impact public safety,” it further read.
In the examination, which will be attended by nearly 6,50,000 candidates, the government said it wants it to be “conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, allowing for the selection of the best candidates purely on merit”.
Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission is conducting the examination.
Read the full order here:
The internet ban will be invoked at 8.00 am, before being lifted off at 1.30 pm after the examination. The examination will be held at various examination centres in 24 districts on September 21 and 22.
The ban prohibits “mobile internet, mobile data and mobile Wi-Fi services of all service providers” throughout Jharkhand.
The government, however, has clarified that “voice calls and broadband connectivity based on fixed telephone lines may remain operational during the aforementioned period”.
Giving the reason for the ban decision, the Jharkhand government said: “It has been observed in previous instances that some unscrupulous individuals resorted to unfair practices utilising various mobile applications, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, X (Twitter), Telegram, and YouTube, which rely on Internet/Wi-Fi connectivity”.
“The government of Jharkhand seeks to eliminate any loopholes in the examination process that may raise doubts in the public mind regarding the integrity of the recruitment process, potentially leading to law and order issues that could impact public safety,” it further read.
In the examination, which will be attended by nearly 6,50,000 candidates, the government said it wants it to be “conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, allowing for the selection of the best candidates purely on merit”.
Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission is conducting the examination.
Read the full order here: