Bhubaneswar: The Youth Congress on Saturday wrote to chairman of the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to postpone the state civil services main examination-2020 in view of increasing Covid-19 cases.
The examination will start from January 20 and continue till February 8. Candidates have already requested chief minister Naveen Patnaik to intervene in the matter.
Smruti Ranjan Lenka, president of the Odisha unit of Youth Congress, in the letter said the OPSC should not conduct the examination at a time when the state is reporting more than 10,000 Covid cases per day. “Experts said we may reach the peak of the third wave by the end of this month or first week of February. That means, the state will witness more cases in the coming days. Holding the Main examination during this time is sheer stupidity,” he added.
He said the government has closed schools, colleges and universities after Covid cases increased in the state and questioned why it is interested in holding the examination during this time.
He said several of the candidates have tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the examination.
“Many of them may get infected while attending the examination and it will affect their performance. Sound health and mental peace is needed for a candidate to appear for the test,” he added.
Lenka said some candidates who are staying in rural areas will face difficulties finding a place to stay in the city and appear for the test during the Covid pandemic.
The examination will start from January 20 and continue till February 8. Candidates have already requested chief minister Naveen Patnaik to intervene in the matter.
Smruti Ranjan Lenka, president of the Odisha unit of Youth Congress, in the letter said the OPSC should not conduct the examination at a time when the state is reporting more than 10,000 Covid cases per day. “Experts said we may reach the peak of the third wave by the end of this month or first week of February. That means, the state will witness more cases in the coming days. Holding the Main examination during this time is sheer stupidity,” he added.
He said the government has closed schools, colleges and universities after Covid cases increased in the state and questioned why it is interested in holding the examination during this time.
He said several of the candidates have tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the examination.
“Many of them may get infected while attending the examination and it will affect their performance. Sound health and mental peace is needed for a candidate to appear for the test,” he added.
Lenka said some candidates who are staying in rural areas will face difficulties finding a place to stay in the city and appear for the test during the Covid pandemic.
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