Bhubaneswar, Feb. 26: The department of technical education will introduce a slew of reforms in the examination process for engineering schools and polytechnics.

The changes, which will be in accordance with the Odisha Conduct of Examinations Act, 1988, aim to curb the rate of malpractice and use of unfair means during the exams. Extra caution will be maintained during opening of question paper packets, conduct of examinations, collection of answer books and evaluation of answer sheets.

Authorities of the centres concerned will not be allowed to remain present at the respective venues during the exams.

“This has been done so that they do not try to exercise influence over members of the inspection squads,” said a department official.

Efforts are also being geared to ensure that there is no leakage of confidential exam material by persons entrusted with such responsibility. Earlier, the college authorities used to let off in case of detection of malpractice from their centre.

“Now onwards, the principals and exam supervisors will be held responsible for any malpractice that surfaces from that particular centre. The officials will immediately be taken to task and the centre will be de-listed,” the official said.

Similarly, flying squads, one for each centre, will be pressed into service.

These squads would reach the venue two hours ahead of a particular exam. The question paper packets will be opened and distributed among students in the presence of the squads. Earlier, a team of observers used to visit various exam centres in the district.

“But now, we are going to make it stricter. There will be squads for each centre,” he said.