New Delhi, Aug 19 (Only Kashmir): The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved a proposal to set up National Recruitment Agency that will conduct Common Eligibility Test (CET) for selection to non-gazetted posts in the central government and public sector banks.
“Union Cabinet approves setting up of ‘National Recruitment Agency’ to conduct Common Eligibility Test. This decision will benefit job seeking youth of the country,” Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has said.
There will be single entrance examination for all non-gazetted posts — Group B and C posts. Candidates need to qualify this common entrance examination to apply for higher level of examination to any recruitment agencies.
The score will be valid for three years during which candidate can apply for jobs in different sectors depending upon his aptitude and preferences.
As of now, aspirants have to take different exams that are conducted by various agencies for central government jobs. According to C Chandramouli, Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, on an average 2.5 crore to 3 crore aspirants appear for about 1.25 lakh vacancies in the central government every year.
As and when it will be set up, the NRA will conduct a common eligibility test (CET) and based on the CET score a candidate can apply for a vacancy with the respective agency.
To make it easier for candidates, examination centres would be set up in every district of the country. A special focus will be on creating examination infrastructure in the 117 ‘Aspirational Districts’. The government says that the move will benefit the poor candidates, as in the present system they have to appear in multiple examinations conducted by multiple agencies. They have to incur expenditure on examination fees, travel, boarding, lodging and other things. The single examination is expected to reduce the financial burden on such candidates.
The government says that a single eligibility test would “significantly reduce” the recruitment cycle. Even some of the departments have indicated their intention to do away with any second-level test and go ahead with recruitment on the basis of CET scores, Physical Tests and Medical examination, say sources.
