Shimla, Nov 29 (IANS): The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Punjab National Bank (PNB) to launch an 'online payment gateway' for applicants to pay examination fees online.

The MoU was signed by HPPSC secretary Mohan Chauhan and PNB deputy general manager V.K. Goyal here.

HPPSC chairman K.S. Tomar said candidates would be able to make payment through credit/debit cards from VISA and Master Cards of any bank.

"New process will enhance transparency as well as efficiency and candidates will get e-mail or SMS after every transaction," Tomar said.

He said PNB would charge a nominal fee of Rs.13.48 for each transaction.

The chairman said the HPPSC recently started bar-coded optical mark reader outer sheet for examinations, which will help in maintaining a complete secrecy.

He said this would discontinue the existing system of writing the fictitious roll numbers on the answer sheets.

It would also contribute in getting rid of tedious work and time consuming process which was in force till now, Tomar added.