The Tamil Nadu Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) successfully conducted a major recruitment examination for assistant professors on Saturday, drawing a significant number of aspirants across the state. The exam, held to fill a substantial number of vacancies in government arts and science colleges, saw a robust overall attendance of 89 percent.
High Turnout Across Exam Centers
A total of 42,064 candidates appeared for the crucial test, which was organized across 196 examination centers set up in all district headquarters. In the state capital of Chennai, the turnout was notably high, with 7,116 out of 8,327 registered candidates taking the exam, resulting in an 85 percent attendance rate within the city.
Exam Structure and Candidate Feedback
The examination was conducted in two distinct sessions. The morning session featured 30 compulsory Tamil language questions and 100 subject-specific multiple-choice questions. The afternoon session was dedicated to descriptive essay-type questions, where candidates had to choose one out of five topics. These topics covered areas such as the Indian Constitution, governance, and renewable energy.
Initial feedback from candidates indicated a mixed response regarding the difficulty level. Many found the Tamil qualifying paper and the descriptive questions to be relatively easy. "The Tamil eligibility questions and the descriptive type questions were straightforward. The eligibility section was based on the Class X textbook," shared Raj, an aspirant from Chennai. He, however, noted that geography questions were challenging.
Another candidate, Murugan, pointed out a common issue with time management during the multiple-choice question section. The fear of a difficult Tamil paper had led many, like Raj, to prepare extensively for the qualifying section this time.
Strict Anti-Malpractice Measures
The TRB implemented stringent measures to ensure the integrity of the examination process. All exam halls were under constant surveillance through CCTV cameras. A strict dress code was enforced, and several personal items were banned from the halls to prevent unfair practices. Prohibited items included belts, digital watches, shoes, and high heels, with candidates instructed to wear only chappals or sandals. Nagaraj, a candidate from Madurai, confirmed that these protocols were diligently followed at all centers.
Officials from the TRB stated that the evaluation process would commence for those who qualify in the Tamil exam. They cautioned that assessing the descriptive answer sheets would take considerable time due to the nature of the questions. This recruitment drive, based primarily on a written test, marks a significant event as it resumes after a long gap for appointing assistant professors to government colleges.
The board is seeking to fill 2,708 vacancies through this process, making it a highly competitive and closely watched recruitment event in the state's higher education sector.
