Karnataka Exam Authority Tightens VAO Test Security After Phone Cheating Case

Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has announced new security steps following a mobile‑phone cheating incident at the Village Administrative Officer (VAO) recruitment test in Haveri district. The case involved a candidate who, despite a weak academic background and low scores in a previous KSRP exam, topped the VAO exam and was later caught using a phone during the test; Haveri police are now investigating. To curb such breaches, each examination room will now be supervised by two staff members – one positioned at the front and another at the back – who will also check that the signal‑blocking equipment is working. Candidates must undergo a stricter frisking process, and a second round of checks will be carried out inside the hall. KEA has instructed all aspirants to reach the centre at least half an hour before the start time; anyone arriving later will be turned away, said H. Prasanna, KEA’s executive director. District‑level monitoring will be enhanced through live webcasts, and a dedicated supervisor at each centre will watch CCTV feeds. KEA also posted online the scores of the top 5,000 candidates, along with their marks from earlier recruitment exams for civil police, KSRP, constable and land‑surveyor posts, to promote openness. Large score discrepancies have been sent to district commissioners for CCTV review. Prasanna thanked those who highlighted the Shiggaon irregularities and asked the public to email any future concerns, while warning against spreading unverified rumors on social media, especially when candidates share similar names. ## Context