Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday asserted that his state has recorded no examination paper leaks during his nearly four-and-a-half years in office, contrasting this record with widespread issues reported elsewhere in the country. Speaking while distributing appointment letters to 355 newly recruited government employees across various departments, Mann highlighted the AAP-led government’s focus on transparent, merit-based hiring. He noted that the total number of government jobs provided since the administration took charge in 2022 has now reached 67,037—all secured without political interference, bribery, or favouritism.
“In the last four to four-and-a-half years, there has been no incident of a paper leak in Punjab,” Mann stated, pointing to the integrity of the state’s recruitment and examination processes. He referenced reports of around 93 exam paper leaks across India since 2017, including high-profile cases like the cancelled NEET exam, which he said had demoralised lakhs of young aspirants.Mann emphasized that an honest administration in Punjab has ensured meritorious candidates receive fair opportunities. He also touched on broader efforts to retain youth in the state through skill development, including new ITIs, and pathways for regularising contractual workers, while claiming reverse migration trends are emerging.
The remarks come amid ongoing national debates over examination integrity, with opposition parties in Punjab later raising counter-allegations of irregularities in some state-level tests—claims firmly rejected by the ruling AAP as baseless or mischaracterised cases of individual cheating rather than systemic leaks. Mann’s government continues to position its recruitment drive as a model of fairness, urging new employees to prioritize public service, particularly for senior citizens and ordinary citizens.
Ref:thefinancialworld.com,Times of India,Hindustan Times