In a striking and widely shared scene, nearly 8,000 candidates gathered at the Jamadarpali airstrip in Odisha’s Sambalpur district to sit for a written recruitment exam despite there being only 187 Home Guard positions available.

The unusual venue, an unused airstrip repurposed as an exam hall, quickly went viral on social media, prompting reactions from political parties and public commentators alike. Videos and aerial footage show rows of aspirants seated on the tarmac, filling the open space to accommodate the sheer number of test-takers.

Authorities said the unconventional setting was used to manage the large turnout while maintaining order and spacing between candidates in the absence of adequate indoor facilities. Police support, including drone surveillance, was reportedly deployed to oversee the exercise and ensure discipline.

The recruitment test included sections such as paragraph writing and general knowledge. Candidates from a wide range of educational backgrounds, including MBA and MCA graduates, had turned up for the exam even though the minimum eligibility for the Home Guard posts is much lower.

The episode has ignited debate over the planning and resources available for large-scale public examinations, plus discussions on how to better organize future recruitment tests to avoid reliance on unconventional venues.