1. As the Railways are aware in terms of instructions contained in this Ministry’s letter No.E(NG)I-2006/PM1/18 dated 30.08.2006 substituting the clause(i) after sub-para (c) of para 219 of Indian Railway Establishment Manual Vol.I,1989, in the written test held as part of the selection for promotion to the posts classified as ‘Selection’, objective type of questions should be set for about 50% ( in the range of 45% to 55%) of the total marks for the written test. However, of late it is seen that the candidates in the written examinations while answering objective type questions mark either more than one answer or keep making correction in answers indicated earlier. This not only creates confusion but has also been objected during Vigilance Investigations.
2. The matter has accordingly been considered by the Board and it has been decided that in the answers to objective type questions, no corrections of any type may be permitted. In case any correction is made, that answer shall not be evaluated at all. The correction may be any one of the following types ( the list is illustrative and not exhaustive):-
a) Cutting.
b) Overwriting
c) Erasing;
d) Scoring off a ticked answer in multiple-choice and ticking another answer, and ,
e) Modifying the answer in any way.
2.1 In partial modification of para 3.1 of this Ministry’s letter No. E(NG)I-2006/PM1/18 dated 30.08.2006 it is also clarified that the term objective type questions will now include questions of the following types:
a) Multiple choice questions.
b) Answer in yes or no
c) Fill in the blanks ( maximum four words)
d) Match the following; and
e) Any other type of question(s) for which answer is to be given in one word/phrase.
3. These instructions should be widely circulated so that all the staff concerned are fully aware of the implications of making corrections in their answers to objective type question(s); and these may also be made part of the instructions printed on the question paper and answer sheets so that there is no room for complaint from any candidate. The possibility of providing particular space in answer sheets for indicating answers to objective type questions may also be explored so that there is no room for candidates to answer a question at some other place after scoring off the same at one place in the answer book.