Bhubaneswar, Dec 6 (NationPress) The president of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and former Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, has voiced strong criticism against the state government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party for its ongoing trend of cancelling recruitment exams. He stated that these cancellations are gravely impacting the aspirations and future of countless young candidates.

In a recent social media update, Patnaik pointed out that the repeated cancellations, such as the most recent Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) exam, have generated feelings of uncertainty and frustration among students who are striving for government jobs.

He accused the state government of lacking transparency and questioned the logic behind the frequent postponements or cancellations of significant examinations. Patnaik highlighted that in the past 18 months, approximately 18 recruitment exams across various sectors have been annulled, a situation he described as “deeply concerning.”

He cautioned that such administrative failures not only threaten the careers of students but also diminish public trust in the state's recruitment system. Urging immediate action, the former chief minister called on the government to guarantee that all exams are conducted regularly, impartially, and with full transparency.

Patnaik stressed that protecting the future of Odisha’s youth should be a primary concern and urged authorities to take prompt corrective actions to restore confidence among candidates.

In recent months, Odisha has experienced a series of recruitment exam cancellations, raising alarms about the management of examinations and recruitments within the state.

The state recently cancelled the ANM exam after allegations of a question paper leak surfaced mere hours before the exam.

Previously, the Odisha High Court invalidated the main written exam for the position of Assistant Section Officer (ASO), conducted in July 2025, due to significant concerns regarding the exam's administration by the responsible agency.

A new ASO examination is set for December 7, involving all 7,113 candidates who passed the preliminary exam.

In light of these recurring issues, the state government has instructed all departments and recruitment bodies to provide comprehensive reports on every cancelled recruitment exam that took place between June 2024 and October 2025.

Opposition figures have condemned the ongoing cancellations, labeling them as evidence of systemic failure and calling for stricter oversight of recruitment procedures.