LUCKNOW, May 22 -- Authorities swiftly contained a paper leak rumour in the state capital during the Uttar Pradesh Lekhpal Main Examination on Thursday, preventing disruption in one of the state's largest recruitment exercises that took place under unprecedented security arrangements, according to an official press release shared by the district administration. The rumour surfaced at Gopinath Laxmandas Rastogi Inter College in Aishbagh shortly before the examination began. Officials said confusion spread among some candidates in room number 21, prompting them to step out of the examination hall before the test commenced. District administration officials immediately reached the spot and verified the information, it said. Officials later confirmed that question papers and OMR sheets remained secured in sealed packets. After officials clarified the situation, candidates returned to their examination rooms and completed the test, the press release added. The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) conducted the Lekhpal main examination from 10 am to 12 noon at 861 centres across 44 districts for 7,994 vacancies. A total of 3,66,712 candidates had registered for the examination, out of which 3,01,756 candidates or 82.29% appeared. Extensive security measures were taken to maintain transparency and prevent malpractice. Authorities continuously monitored examination centres through CCTV cameras connected to control rooms established at examination centres, district headquarters and the UPSSSC headquarters. Officials deployed biometric verification systems and artificial intelligence-based monitoring to identify impersonation attempts. As many as 18,883 CCTV cameras, 7,683 biometric operators, 6,297 fixing guards, 861 static magistrates, 861 sector magistrates and 34,378 room inspectors were deployed across the state. In Lucknow, the examination was conducted at 58 centres. ADM (civil supply) Jyoti Gautam said 20,590 candidates appeared in the examination, while around 3,938 remained absent. Authorities also detected one suspected impersonation case at Shivkumar Agarwal Janta Inter College in Bulandshahr. Officials handed the candidate to local police, the press release said....