Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has issued a significant clarification following reports that candidates appearing for the Karnataka Police Constable recruitment examination were confused by misleading claims circulating on social media about OMR answer sheets and question paper numbers.
The written examination was conducted on August 2, 2026, in all districts of Karnataka for recruitment of 1,453 vacant Male and Female Civil Police Constable posts in the Karnataka Police Department. The examination was conducted as part of the state’s recruitment process to fill vacancies in the police force.
#WATCH | Vijayapura, Karnataka | Tensions flared after students appearing for the Police Constable exam at Tikota Sharadamba PU College exam centre noticed that the number on the OMR sheet given to them did not match the number on the question paper, casuing some students to… https://t.co/BVeGEFFSWw pic.twitter.com/3bRyBamoYi
— ANI (@ANI) August 3, 2026
According to the Executive Director of the Karnataka Examinations Authority, some candidates were misled by false information claiming that the number printed on the OMR answer sheet had to match the number on the question paper.
KEA categorically rejected this claim and stated that no such requirement had been mentioned in any official communication related to the examination.
The authority said, “Nowhere in the official notifications, instruction booklets, or in verbal instructions was it mentioned that the OMR number and Question Paper number should be the same.”
The clarification is significant because in competitive exams with a lot of candidates involved, rumours and unverified information circulating through social media platforms, messaging groups and unofficial online channels can be very damaging. The rumours can cause confusion in the minds of the candidates and anxiety in the examination.
KEA explained that the OMR answer sheet contains separate provisions for candidates to enter the required examination-related information. Candidates are provided designated fields to fill in the Question Paper Series Code and the Version Code.
The authority stressed that these details should not be confused with the OMR answer sheet number or the question paper number. It added that there is no rule requiring the OMR number and the Question Paper number to match.
According to the statement, “In the OMR answer sheet, there is provision to fill the Question Paper Series Code and Version Code. There is no rule that the OMR number and Question Paper number have to match.”
The clarification seems to be directed at addressing questions that were raised post the examination and preventing inaccurate information from spreading. KEA has advised people in the public, candidates and social media users not to spread inaccurate or false information about the examination process.
Candidates are also advised to only receive official notifications, examination instructions and messages from the Karnataka Examinations Authority and to follow the correspondence. Information sent by unofficial social media accounts or unverified messaging groups in the form of messages should be treated with care until the official KEA announcement is made.
The recruitment exam is a crucial step in filling 1,453 Civil Police Constable vacancies in Karnataka. The positions are filled for both male and female candidates, and the recruitment procedure is to improve the state police force and will help to increase the state police force by filling vacancies presently open.
KEA’s clarification also underscores the necessity of reading official examination instructions. For OMR-based examinations, candidates are required to enter specific identification details and examination codes in designated fields. But candidates must only follow the instructions given by the conducting authority rather than assuming or relying on information obtained online.
Now that the examination is complete, candidates will be waiting for further updated information about the evaluation process, answer keys, objections, and next steps of recruitment. KEA will likely communicate the progress of the examination in its official channels.
The authority has once again appealed to the public not to spread misinformation about the OMR answer sheet and question paper numbering issue. It said the claim that the OMR number and Question Paper number must be identical is false and was never part of the official examination instructions.
