SPSC to adopt IT-enabled services to expedite result declarations

STATE WIDE AREA NETWORK ON THE ANVIL 
GANGTOK, 9 Aug: The State government has directed the Department of Information Technology (DIT) to complete the Computerised Examination Data Processing System (CEDPS) to streamline the examination process under the Sikkim Public Service Commission.
This system will help the SPSC in evaluation of answer scripts and declare results for competitive exams conducted by it faster. The DIT has already made a presentation on automated correction of answer sheets and quicker declaration of results using Optical Mark Reader technology.
KK Pradhan, Secretary, Department of Information Technology, informed NOW! that the proposal for setting up an in-house  Optical Mark Reader technology is under active consideration of the SPSC in consultation with the Basic Computer Concept Certificate from DOEACC Society, under Ministry of Information Technology, which is providing end-to-end solutions for examinations conducted by SPSC.
He said that the Department of Information Technology has already installed the Optical Mark Reader machine at SPSC and a workshop cum mock drill was also organized on the use of Optical Mark Reader in April.
He added that the department has initiated such efforts to expedite results declaration by SPSC since competitive exams conducted by it are attracting a large number of candidates and evaluating the answer scripts manually was proving very lengthy.
The Central Government has recommended that all states move ahead with technology and has provided financial assistance to states to strengthening the IT sector. The Optical Mark Reader for Sikkim has been funded by the North East Council.
Besides this, the 13th Finance Commission has advised the State government to create a computerized database of the government employees and pensioners so that it can ascertain fiscal expenditure on the account of salary and pension. Mr. Pradhan said that the role of the DIT is to handle the hardware and software related aspect of the project.
He further shared that the Department has urged the Union Ministry of IT to provide microwave support or V-Sat for Sikkim to improve the online connectivity and link Sikkim with the rest of the country. He said that the Ministry has agreed in principle to provide a V-Sat or Satellite service to Sikkim soon and the mission-mode programmes of the department will benefit from it in the coming days.  
Technical infrastructure such as high speed optical fibres will be available to District Headquarters and Sub Division Headquarters, Mr. Pradhan said, adding that like electricity, internet bandwidth will be ubiquitous and all households will be connected on the Internet through Cordect, WiFi or normal telephone line. A State Wide Area Network (SWAN) will also be installed eventually, he shared.