Thousands of job seekers gathered at an airstrip in Odisha for a recruitment test that offered a limited number of positions. The scene quickly drew attention because of the sheer number of people competing
for limited government jobs. Aspirants arrived early, sat in neat rows, and waited patiently for the exam to begin. The visuals from the venue have sparked a wider conversation about unemployment, rising competition, and the lack of suitable jobs across the country.
The incident occurred at Jamadarpali airstrip in Sambalpur district, where candidates were taking a Home Guard recruitment exam. While the post requires only basic qualifications and offers modest pay, the turnout showed how desperate the job situation has become for many, especially young people with higher education.
Thousands Turn Up For A Handful Of Posts
More than 8,000 candidates reached the Jamadarpali airstrip to compete for just 187 Home Guard posts. The large open ground was used to manage the crowd, as regular exam centres could not handle the numbers.
The video shows thousands of candidates seated in long, straight rows across an airstrip, waiting quietly for the exam to start.
In Odisha, Airstrip doubles up as examination hall as more than 8000 aspirants turn up for more than 187 homeguard vaccancies. pic.twitter.com/1XH78meDcN
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) December 19, 2025
The recruitment exam began early in the day. As per The Free Press Journal, the Reporting time was fixed at 6 am, while candidates were allowed entry by 9 am. Question papers were distributed at 10:30 am. The test included a paragraph-writing section of 30 minutes carrying 20 marks, followed by a one-hour general knowledge paper worth 30 marks.
Another Crowded Visual Adds To The Concern
A post on X related to the same recruitment process also went viral and added to the discussion around job scarcity. The image shows a massive crowd of candidates packed between barricades, forming long queues under police supervision at the examination venue.
Around 8000 candidates appeared for the written examination for Home Guard Recruitment – 2025 at Jamadarpali Air Strip in Sambalpur district on Tuesday. #Sambalpur #WesternOdisha pic.twitter.com/7xDWQgKLXD
— Phanindra Pradhan (@Phanindra_IIMC) December 16, 2025
To maintain order, a heavy security presence was deployed. Reportedly, police officers, sub-inspectors, traffic police, and over 100 Home Guard personnel were stationed at the site throughout the examination process.
Low pay, High Competition
The Home Guard role reportedly offers a daily wage of Rs 612, which comes to roughly Rs 18,360 per month. The minimum educational requirement for the job is Class V. Despite this, many candidates present held higher degrees.
Reports suggested that engineers, MBA and MCA graduates, diploma holders, ITI students, and computer science professionals were among the applicants.
The exam was organised by the Sambalpur police for roles spread across 24 police stations. The duties include assisting police vehicles, handling basic computer-related tasks, and supporting routine operations.
Social Media Users React Strongly
As the video and images spread online, many people shared their views. A user wrote, “If I have any power or authority, I will declare all of them Pass! Salute to our tolerance, patience, strengths and determination at a time when common people have been reduced to this stage!!!” Someone added, “Deeply saddening.”
Another commented, “We boast about the economy but reality is this.” A person said, “Failure of the focus of the education system on producing mere graduates in arts.” Another remark read, “That’s why we are the 4th largest economy in the world.”
