8K Candidates, 187 Home Guard Posts: Sambalpur Airstrip Becomes Exam Centre Amid Massive Turnout

An overwhelming response to a Home Guard recruitment drive in Odisha’s Sambalpur district led to an unusual examination setting on December 16, with thousands of candidates taking a written test at an airstrip.

Around 8,000 aspirants appeared for just 187 Home Guard positions, even though the minimum eligibility for the post is only a Class V pass. Officials said the large turnout reflected growing unemployment, as many degree and postgraduate holders were also among the applicants.

The Jamadarpali airstrip was selected as the exam venue after authorities realised regular examination centres would not be sufficient to handle the crowd.

Candidates started gathering at the site since early morning and were seated on the runway under the open sky

to allow better movement and supervision.

Officials said organising the exam at schools or colleges was not practical due to the number of candidates and the frequency of other exams in the district. The open ground helped avoid congestion and ensured smooth conduct, according to a report by India Today.

“The examination was held on December 16 in Sambalpur. Around ten thousand applicants had applied for the exam, and nearly eight thousand aspirants appeared on the examination day,” the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Sambalpur, was quoted as saying by the outlet.

“To accommodate eight thousand candidates, arrangements had to be made across twenty schools. Sambalpur is a place where several examinations are conducted every Sunday, and it becomes difficult to manage such a large number of students at a time. Generally, written and physical examinations for police and army recruitment are conducted on open grounds. To avoid any kind of mismanagement, we made all necessary arrangements accordingly,” the ASP added.

Despite the unconventional location, officials said the examination was conducted without any disturbance, and candidates cooperated throughout the process.