Staff Selection Commission (SSC) held the first phase of Multi-Tasking non-technical staff, and Havaldar CBIC and CBN examination 2024, which is popularly known as SSC MTS, Havaldar 2024. Reportedly, more than half of the aspirants across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar walked out on the opening day of the examination. More than 1,000 duplicate applications were also rejected for uploading similar photographs by the commission.

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An applicant said on X, “Exam centre change kr dia ssc n mts k exam k liye pehle noida tha or ab surat de diya or maine ne region m apply kia tha (Exam centre has been changed for SSC MTS. I was allotted Noida initially and now it has been changed to Surat despite selecting the correct region),”.

The same problem had been complained about by another applicant from Rohtak. Sub-tagging the commission, she said: “I don’t have money to travel to the allotted exam centre.”

As many as 57,44,713 candidates had registered for the SSC MTS and Havaldar Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBIC and CBN) this year. According to the report in Live Hindustan, 17,93,680 candidates had registered under the SSC central zone from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Those from the central region comprised 31.22% of the total applicants. According to the report, more than half of the 82,793 candidates from both states, ie, 45,871 (44.60%), did not appear for the exam. As many as 24,131 from UP and 12,791 from Bihar failed to appear on the first day of the exam, it added.

SSC uses AI to reject applications

A few duplicate applications from candidates also have been rejected by the SSC regional offices. The SSC northern region in its recent notification mentioned, “While scrutinizing the applications for MTS Exam 2024, it has been found that the same photograph has been uploaded by various candidates at the time of submitting their application. All such applications have been detected with Artificial Intelligence. Suspected cases 220 have been noted and candidature has been cancelled for further action”.

A total of 598 such cases have been found in the SSC-Central Region and 69 cases in the Southern Region. However, the Karnataka, Kerala Region did not specify the number of cases registered. According to reports, 1,300 applications have been rejected so far.

SSC MTS admit card 2024: The SSC MTS admit card 2024 has been released on the official website, ssc.gov.in. Downloading of SSC MTS, and Havaldar admit cards to be available on regional websites as well.

Conclusion

SSC MTS and Havaldar 2024 exams are being conducted; after the admit card, all the candidates can download them from the official website of SSC. A large number of candidates got themselves registered, but on the very first day, it was observed that a good percentage of applicants from the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar did not report for the examination. SSC is also employing AI to identify and reject duplicate applications. It has cancelled 1,300 applications with mismatches in the photographs submitted. Candidates should download the admit cards as soon as possible and verify the details of the exam to avoid any hassles at the last moment.

Designed to monitor the freshness of seafood in real-time by responding to pH changes, the film offers a practical solution for improving food safety and reducing waste.

This film detects the release of volatile amines, compounds typically associated with spoilage, and indicates food quality through visible color changes, say sources from NIT Rourkela.

These natural components make the film biodegradable, safe, and responsive, aligning with sustainability goals and offering a non-invasive way to assess seafood freshness.

Findings

The findings of this research have been published in the journal Food Packaging and Shelf Life in a paper co-authored by Prof. Preetam Sarkar (as the lead corresponding author), along with his research scholars, Mr. Rahul Thakur, Miss Harshi Singhi, Mr. Vedsagar Rajesh Suryavanshi, and Dr. Ravichandran Santhosh.

Other co-authors in this work include Dr. Khalid Gul from NIT Rourkela, Dr. Swarup Roy from Lovely Professional University, Dr. Srinivas Janaswamy from South Dakota State University, Brookings, USA and Dr. Kirtiraj K. Gaikwad from IIT Roorkee.

Fishing

India is the world’s second-largest fish-producing nation, contributing approximately 8% of global fish production, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

It also holds the distinction of being the top five producer of shrimp globally, with frozen shrimp being the top export commodity.

Given the scale and importance of seafood production, innovations that ensure freshness and reduce spoilage are of immense value, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

In this context, intelligent packaging systems, which preserve food while monitoring its quality, are rapidly gaining global interest.

Unlike conventional packaging that serves merely as a protective barrier, the intelligent packaging film developed by NIT Rourkela team offers visual cues about the product’s condition, making it a promising solution for enhancing food safety and reducing waste.

The beetroot peel extract was prepared separately, and then combined with the starch, gum tragacanth, and a small amount of glycerol to cast the films.

These were dried and tested for their pH-sensitivity and effectiveness in monitoring seafood freshness, said Prof Preetam of NIT Rourkela.

Pigments

Beetroot peels contain betalains, a group of pigments known for their bright colours and pH sensitivity, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

These pigments also offer antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits, making them suitable for food-related applications.

Incorporating these natural compounds into the starch-based film creates a biodegradable, safe, and responsive packaging material.

When the seafood begins to spoil and pH levels rise, the film changes colour, providing a clear visual indicator of freshness.

Starch

The choice of Kodo millet starch and gum tragacanth contributes to the film’s biodegradable and eco-friendly profile.

Kodo millet is an underutilised grain with excellent film-forming properties, while gum tragacanth enhances the mechanical strength and flexibility of the material.

The researchers believe that using such agricultural by-products not only supports sustainability but also adds value to food processing waste, such as beetroot peels.

At the laboratory scale, the cost of producing the film was estimated approximately Rs. 900 per kilogram.

When scaled up for industrial production, the cost is projected to range between Rs. 400 and Rs. 600 per kilogram, making it a potentially viable option for commercial use.

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