Cabinet
approves creation of National Recruitment Agency (NRA), paving the way
for a transformational reform in the recruitment process for central
government jobs
NRA:
A Multi-Agency Body to encompass the first level test by the Staff
Selection Commission (SSC), the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) and
the Institute of Banking Service Personnel (IBPS)
Common eligibility Test (CET) to screen candidates at the first level for SSC, RRBs and IBPS
CET:
A computer based online Common Eligibility Test (CET) for the Graduate,
the Higher Secondary (12thpass) and the Matriculate (10th Pass)
candidates as a path-breaking reform.
CET in Every District: Ease of Access to Rural youth, women and disadvantaged candidates
CET: Focus on access to Test Centres in Aspirational Districts
CET: Uniform Transformative Recruitment Process
CET In; Multiplicity of Exams Out
CET by NRA: Robust use of ICT to Eradicate Malpractices
CET: A first stage screening of eligible candidates
CET to reduce Recruitment Cycle
NRA to conduct Mock Test for rural youth
NRA to have mock tests, 24x7 helpline and grievance redressal portal
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for creation
of National Recruitment Agency (NRA), paving the way for a
transformational reform in the recruitment process for central
government jobs.
Recruitment Reform - a major boon for the youth
At
present, candidates seeking government jobs have to appear for separate
examinations conducted by multiple recruiting agencies for various
posts, for which similar eligibility conditions have been prescribed.
Candidates have to pay fee to multiple recruiting agencies and also have
to travel long distances for appearing in various exams. These multiple
recruitment examinations are a burden on the candidates, as also on the
respective recruitment agencies, involving avoidable/repetitive
expenditure, law and order/security related issues and venue related
problems. On an average, 2.5 crore to 3 crore candidates appear in each
of these examinations. A common eligibility Test would enable these
candidates to appear once and apply to any or all of these recruitment
agencies for the higher level of examination. This would indeed be a
boon to all the candidates.
National Recruitment Agency (NRA)
A
multi-agency body called the National Recruitment Agency (NRA) will
conduct a Common Eligibility Test (CET) to screen/shortlist candidates
for the Group B and C (non-technical) posts.
NRA will have representatives of Ministry of Railways, Ministry of
Finance/Department of Financial Services, the SSC, RRB & IBPS. It is
envisioned that the NRA would be a specialist body bringing the
state-of-the-art technology and best practices to the field of Central
Government recruitment.
Access to Examination Centres
Examination
Centres in every District of the country would greatly enhance access
to the candidates located in far-flung areas. Special focus on creating
examination infrastructure in the 117 Aspirational Districts would go a
long way in affording access to candidates at a place nearer to where
they reside. The benefits in terms of cost, effort, safety and much more
would be immense. The proposal will not only ease access to rural
candidates, it will also motivate the rural candidates residing in the
far-flung areas to take the examination and thereby, enhance their
representation in Central Government jobs. Taking job opportunities
closer to the people is a radical step that would greatly enhance ease
of living for the youth.
Major Relief to poor Candidates
Presently,
the candidates have to appear in multiple examinations conducted by
multiple agencies. Apart from the examination fees, candidates have to
incur additional expenses for travel, boarding, lodging and other such. A
single examination would reduce the financial burden on candidates to a
large extent.
Women candidates to benefit greatly
Women
candidates especially from rural areas face constraints in appearing in
multiple examinations as they have to arrange for transportation and
places to stay in places that are far away. They sometimes have to find
suitable persons to accompany them to these Centres that are located far
away. The location of test centres in every District would greatly
benefit candidates from rural areas in general and women candidates in
particular.
Bonanza for Candidates from Rural Areas
Given
the financial and other constraints, the candidates from rural
background have to make a choice as to which examination they want to
appear in. Under the NRA, the candidates by appearing in one
examination will get an opportunity to compete for many posts. NRA will
conduct the first-level /Tier I Examination which is the stepping stone
for many other selections.
CET Score to be valid for three years, no bar on attempts
The
CET score of the candidate shall be valid for a period of three years
from the date of declaration of the result. The best of the valid
scores shall be deemed to be the current score of the candidate. There
shall be no restriction on the number of attempts to be taken by a
candidate to appear in the CET subject to the upper age limit.
Relaxation in the upper age limit shall be given to candidates of
SC/ST/OBC and other categories as per the extant policy of the
Government. This would go a long way in mitigating the hardship of
candidates who spend a considerable amount of time, money and effort
preparing and giving these examinations every year.
Standardised Testing
NRA shall conduct a separate CET each for the three levels of graduate, higher secondary (12th pass) and the matriculate (10th
pass) candidates for those non-technical posts to which recruitment is
presently carried out by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the
Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) and by the Institute of Banking
Personnel Selection (IBPS). Based on the screening done at the CET
score level, final selection for recruitment shall be made through
separate specialised Tiers (II, III etc) of examination which shall be
conducted by the respective recruitment agencies. The curriculum for
this test would be common as would be the standard. This would greatly
ease the burden of candidates who are at present required to prepare for
each of the examinations separately as per different curriculum.
Scheduling Tests and choosing Centres
Candidates
would have the facility of registering on a common portal and give a
choice of Centres. Based on availability, they would be allotted
Centres. The ultimate aim is to reach a stage wherein candidates can
schedule their own tests at Centres of their choice.
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES BY NRA
Multiple languages
The
CET would be available in a number of languages. This would greatly
facilitate people from different parts of the country to take the exam
and have an equal opportunity of being selected.
Scores – access to multiple recruitment agencies
Initially the scores would be used by the three major recruitment
agencies. However, over a period of time it is expected that other
recruitment agencies in the Central Government would adopt the same.
Further, it would be open for other agencies in the public as well as
private domain to adopt it if they so choose. Thus,
in the long run, the CET score could be shared with other recruiting
agencies in the Central Government, State Governments/Union Territories,
Public Sector Undertaking and Private Sector. This would help such
organizations in saving costs and time spent on recruitment.
Shortening the recruitment cycle
A single eligibility test would significantly reduce the recruitment
cycle. Some 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. This would greatly
reduce the cycle and benefit a large section of youth.
Financial Outlay
The Government has sanctioned a sum of Rs. 1517.57 crore for the
National Recruitment Agency (NRA). The expenditure will be undertaken
over a period of three years. Apart from setting up the NRA, costs will
be incurred for setting up examination infrastructure in the 117
Aspirational Districts.
