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An initiative by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in the field of Tourism to enhance employability skills, which will eventually become a key factor of the development of the whole country. The certification course is known as the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator (IITFC) Certificate program. This initiative by the Ministry of Tourism will fulfil the requirements of both i.e. guests and hosts. A self-paced learning course that will definitely provide an opportunity to hosts in the tourism sector. And tourists will be assisted by a local who has complete knowledge of the destination and also possess soft skills to treat guests politely. The result derived will be a happy and satisfied tourist who will visit and suggest India as a tourist destination. And an employed individual who will contribute to the economy of the country.
The success of the IITFC strategy wholly rests upon the skilled and qualified individuals who are really dedicated to promoting tourism. And the skills & qualifications are tested by IITTM (Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management) twice in the year by conducting examinations.
If you are searching for the IITFC examination pattern, syllabus, etc. then go through the complete article, you will surely find the relevant information.
About IITFC Examination
- An OCC (Online Course Completion) certificate is generated as students successfully complete their modules and in-course assessments. The validity of OCC certificate is three years from the date of issuance.
- Candidates may register for the course end examination by paying an examination fee of ₹ 500/- (non-refundable) or as instructed by authorities. The SC/ST candidates, domicile residence of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Ladakh and the candidates who are domicile residence of Aspirational Districts identified by NITI AAYOG are given full exemption in the examination fee.
- The examination would be conducted “online” by the agency so identified by Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management.
- For online examination, the centres would be at identified location selected by the candidate out of the various options given by organizing body. No request for change in examination centre would be entertained, once it is allocated.
- The further internship and training will be conducted in and around the centre chosen.
- Process of centre selection will take place in coordination with Regional Directors and third party assigned to conduct examination.
- Generally the examinations are conducted twice in the year i.e. June & December. The enrollment for June exams are closed on 30th April and for December exam on 31st October.
- Candidate are required to secure minimum passing/qualifying marks i.e. 50% in the exam for being eligible for training.
- In case, a candidate fails to qualify in the first attempt, they are entitled to give more attempts in the course-end examination again till the
- validity of their OCC certificate on payment of examination fees (if applicable).
- The candidates after passing the end-of programme examination are eligible for further mandatory Training and Internship.
IITFC Examination in 2020
This year due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, the examination was postponed. For the students who have enrolled themselves in the slot of June, their exam was scheduled for the 9th of November but due to technical glitches, it was postponed once again.
Because of restrictions and lockdown, the mode of examination was online but not by calling students at the centre. Students were appeared in the exam by sitting at home. It was an application-based exam where candidates have to select only the correct option and submit it. One day before the exam a mock test was organized by IITTM to make candidates used to with application and interface. The mock test also faces technical issues but later on, it was sorted but on the exam day due to heavy traffic the application crashed and the exam was postponed.
No fresh date of exam is issued yet from IITTM nor there is a possibility to get it conducted in 2020. Most probably the exams of June 2020 is to be held in January 2021. The authorities may call students to the examination centre for examination because the situation of COVID-19 seems to be in control. By following Government guidelines and Standards Operating procedures it is possible to get the exam conducted this time.
Examination Pattern and Marking Scheme
- The examination will comprise of Objective type / Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
- Candidates need to click on the right choice / correct option from the multiple choices /options given with each question.
- Each question has four options, and the candidate has to click only one which is the correct option.
- There will be no negative marking for the wrong attempted answers.
- So, attempt all questions; each question carries one (01) mark.
- Candidate has to obtain minimum 60% in aggregate to declare PASS.
- Each student will get questions and answers in different order selected randomly from a fixed Question Databank by IITTM and third party conducting examination.
- The candidates can move to First, Last, Previous, Next and unanswered questions by clicking on the buttons with respective labels displayed on screen throughout the test.
- The answers can be changed any time during the test and are saved automatically.
- It is possible to review the answered as well as the unanswered questions from the panel.
- The time remaining is shown in the right top corner of the screen.
- For main basic exam: Total questions to be answer for general modules are 60 in number. I.e questions will be asked from 01 to 06 modules.
- Total questions to answer for each state modules are 50 in number, i.e. questions will be state-specific from 7th module.
- For additional state modules: there shall be a total of 50 questions each for the state opted. The questions have to be attempted in 45 minutes each.
- The details of the schedule of Exams will be published on the IITFC website.
Students are advised to visit the website regularly to get all the details including timelines and updates.
Examination Code of Conduct
- Students are not allowed to leave their seat during the examination.
- Students are not allowed to talk/consult with other people for any information during the time of examination.
- The system uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect and record face emotions, body movement, eyeball movement, and all other activities.
- Students are NOT allowed to take photos, screenshots, hear audio, or record videos of examination and then share it with others during the online exam.
- A remote proctor is deployed to watch such unwanted activities. If anyone found doing such activities, it will be treated as malpractice.
- If a student found to indulge in suspicious and objectionable activities detected and recorded by the AI system, and/or reported by the proctors. In that case, the student will be booked under malpractice, and strict action will be taken as per the rules and regulations of IITTM.
Unfair means
Keeping in possession or access to any of the following during examination:
- Any paper, notes, book, or any other unauthorised material which has relevance to the syllabus of the examination.
- Mobile Phones or any other electronic gadget for communication or copying.
- Anything written on any other instrument or any substance which may have relevance to the exam.
- Communicating to any another person or any unauthorised person inside or outside the examination room during examination hours without the permission of invigilating/proctoring staff.
- During the examination, only the candidate must be present in the room.
- Impersonating any candidate or getting impersonated by any other person for taking examination.
- If the candidate is found reading or possess some incriminating material relevant to the syllabus of the paper their examination in that particular paper or his whole examination depending on the gravity of the offence would be cancelled.
- If the candidate is found giving or receiving assistance in answering the question papers to or from any other candidate in the examination hall or outside during the examination hours, the exam in that particular paper will be cancelled and F grade would be awarded in that paper with all the other consequences to follow.
- If the behaviour of the candidate on being caught is unsatisfactory or the candidate disobey Proctorial instructions/resistance/violence against the proctor /invigilator or any person on examination duty or consistently refuses to obey the instructions, the above-mentioned punishments may be enhanced according to the intensity of the offence as deemed fit by Unfair Means Committee (UFMC).
- Looking away from the camera or trying to obstruct the camera in any way.
- Presence of any unauthorised person other than the candidate in the camera frame.
- Deliberately logging out from the portal of the exam and logging back.
Punishment
If a candidate is found to be using unfair means or involved in disorderly conduct, in connection with examination shall be referred to Unfair means Committee. The committee after consideration of the case as referred to it by proctors/invigilators can award punishment. The punishment awarded by this committee will be in addition to the punishment that may have been already awarded by the proctor with one or more of the following –
- Cancellation of the examination of the paper in respect of which he is found to have been guilty; and/or
- Cancellation of the examination of the semester examination for which he was a candidate and/or debarring from examination for future semester(s).
- Any other punishment deemed suitable by the committee.
- Cancellation of the examination of the paper in respect of which he is found to have been guilty; and/or
- Cancellation of the entire examination of the candidate and/or debarring from examination for future examinations
- Any other punishment deemed suitable by the committee.
Note: Any other conduct or happenings not specifically covered in the above guidelines shall be reported to Director IITTM for a final call in the matter.
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