Server glitch turns Aiims test chaotic

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences' (Aiims) attempt to go online with its entrance test resulted in a debacle, when a server in one of the allocated centres for the test crashed. Rhythma Kaul reports.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences' (Aiims) attempt to go online with its entrance test resulted in a debacle, when a server in one of the allocated centres for the test crashed.

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The crashed reportedly resulted in many doctors being unable to take the exam. Every year, Aiims conducts this exam for 44 seats in 19 super specialty programmes.

Almost a thousand doctors reached the centre in Faridabad, where the exam was supposed to start at 9.55am. Initially, people could not access the server till 10.40am, after which the exam began only to be stalled by a complete server failure an hour later.

Those appearing for the test said the conducting body in charge of the project dispatched technical staff only around 12:30pm. Of the 1,000 computers installed for the examination, only two of the systems remained functional, which led to an alleged paper leak.

The students were assured 48 hours, following which the management will inform them about a new date.

"They should have had a back-up plan. We have a whole stream of exams lined up for the coming weeks and now the entire schedule has been disrupted because of this," said Dr S Barua, who was appearing for the paper in McH neurosurgery.

Although the Aiims administration admitted there was a technical glitch at the centre, they refuted claims of the exam being cancelled.

"When a fire broke out, the system developed some problem. The exam has not been cancelled, but we have rescheduled it for those who were not able to take it today," said an AIIMS official.