Andhra:2018 Andhra Group-I exam riddled with irregularities, say SIT probe

The State Inquiry Team (SIT) investigating irregularities in the 2018 Andhra Pradesh Group-I recruitment examination has revealed multiple instances of misconduct throughout the evaluation process. The examination, held to fill 169 Group-I posts, received over 1.14 lakh applications. The SIT, constituted by the Andhra Pradesh government in February 2026, found irregularities during three distinct evaluation stages - the original digital evaluation in 2021, a manual evaluation at a private resort following a High Court order, and a second manual evaluation in Vijayawada in 2022 during the YSRCP government's tenure.

During the digital evaluation, the SIT alleged the use of unauthorized evaluators and private email accounts, leading to discrepancies in the marked answers. Only 72 out of the initially approved 158 evaluators actually evaluated the answer scripts, while another 25 unapproved evaluators were also involved and received payments.

The SIT noted that the digital evaluation was conducted via unofficial email accounts and Google Drive links, with disparities between the marks entered by evaluators and those reflected in the final digital-result database. One freelancer, Mahamkali Raghuram, allegedly entered second-evaluation marks without an independent second examiner.

Following challenges to the digital evaluation in the High Court, a manual evaluation was ordered. However, the SIT observed that this evaluation amounted to re-entering the earlier digital marks at a private resort, which was not a government office. The second manual evaluation in Vijayawada was conducted without proper documentation supporting the then PSC chairman's decision.

The SIT raised concerns about the custody and surveillance of examination material, noting the absence of CCTV coverage in critical areas during the original evaluation period. During the 2022 manual evaluation, cameras were installed only in a few rooms, and the Strong Room was under CCTV surveillance only after 17 days. Examiner misconduct, including using mobile phones during evaluation and requiring a third evaluation for many scripts, was also noted.

The SIT registered a criminal case against several individuals and is conducting an extensive investigation involving forensic reports, financial records, electronic data, and witness testimonies.