Jaipur: Forty-nine of the 192 candidates appearing in the All India Ayush Post Graduate Entrance Test (AIAPGET) at the Satya Sai PG College here could not complete the computer-based exam due to power outage with some of them alleging that there was copying during the disruption in the presence of the observer.
Candidates said the examination was going at Satya Sai PG College in Transport Nagar when there was power outage for about 20 minutes. The two-hour examination was scheduled from 10 am.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the test for admission to postgraduate MD, MS and PG diploma courses in traditional Indian medicine and homoeopathy systems, said a re-examination will be held at the Rajasthan College of Engineering for Women September 1 for those who could not complete their examination.
It blamed Eduquity Career Technologies Private Limited, the agency which was conducting the test at the centre, for the power failure.
According to candidates, several computer systems stopped working after the power failure. The invigilator told them that the outage was caused by a short circuit and that power would be restored shortly.
However, power was not restored for a considerable period, following which the candidates came out of the centre and protested.
Some students alleged that some candidates were talking among themselves and copying during the disruption. They claimed the alleged cheating took place in the presence of the centre observer, who did not intervene.
“There was power outage multiple times and there was no backup. During this, some candidates started talking and some came out. I was asked to sit in front of the computer even if it was not working. How could I sit when the computer was not working,” a candidate said.
The centre observer said during the outage, backup could not be provided due to technical fault. He said a report is being sent to the NTA.
The AIAPGET examination was conducted for 36979 registered candidates in shift 1 Saturday in which 35837 candidates appeared at 200 centres across the country, the NTA said.
“The examination was completed for 35788 candidates. However, at Shri Satya Sai PG College Centre, in Jaipur, where 192 candidates appeared for the examination, 49 candidates could not complete the examination due to power failure at the centre,” it added.
