KEA clarifies OMR, question paper serial numbers need not match in Karnataka police recruitment exam

The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has issued a clarification after applicants at the Tikota examination centre in Vijayapura alleged the serial numbers on OMR sheets and question papers should match in the Civil Police Constable recruitment examination, saying such information being circulated on social media is false.

The clarification is based on social media posts alleging irregularities in the written examination, which were held on August 2, 2026, due to the mismatch between the serial numbers of the OMR answer sheet and question paper.

The official statement given by KEA on X states that civil police constable recruitment examination was done in a transparent manner in all districts of Karnataka for the remaining vacancies in the cadre and local cadre posts in the Karnataka police department. Some applicants created confusion by spreading false information on social media regarding the serial numbers.

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The issue is also explained by Executive Director H. Prasanna during an interaction with Kea Vikasana's YouTube channel.

KEA explains the process of OMR serial number

The authority also stated that in any notification or exam instruction there is no mention of the serial number of the OMR answer sheet will or should be the same as the question paper.

The official statement originally in Kannada reads, "The OMR answer sheet allows for the question paper serial number and question paper version code to be filled in. If the OMR and question paper serial numbers had been specified to be the same, there would have been no need to specify the question paper serial number on the OMR."

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The authority urged to refrain from circulating any unwarranted false information about the examination on social media.