IAS officer or clerk? Single test scores may decide

Candidates aspiring to join the government should only have to appear for a single screening test the scores of which would determine if they should apply for a clerk's job, a bank officer's or an IAS officer's, the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has told the government.

Candidates aspiring to join the government should only have to appear for a single screening test the scores of which would determine if they should apply for a clerk's job, a bank officer's or an IAS officer's, the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has told the government.

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In its proposal to reform government recruitments, the country's largest recruitment agency has suggested introduction of a GRE-style walk-in screening test that allows candidates to appear in as many times as they want. The score would be valid for a period of two years.

"If a test like this is conducted, say for graduates, it will not be necessary for even the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) to conduct the civil services (Preliminary) aptitude test. They can adopt this course and shortlist candidates for the Civil Services Mains exam," SSC chairman NK Raghupathy said.

UPSC has the mandate to select candidates for high-profile gazetted posts. The SSC, on the other hand, recruits the rest - from lower- division clerks to CBI sub-inspectors and Customs Inspectors.

The plan would not only streamline the recruitment process but also make it easier on aspirants for the growing number of government jobs. This fiscal, the SSC expects to select nearly 25,000 people - double last year's figures - of the 64 lakh applications.

SSC officials said there was statistical evidence to suggest that each candidate applied for different jobs and appeared for different screening tests, putting unnecessary pressure on the recruitment system.

The plan envisages setting up of an apex body to accredit private and public organisations to conduct the tests across the country- for matric, higher secondary and graduate level.

The scores, Raghupathy said, could be utilised for screening candidates for recruitment by all government departments, PSUs, banks and autonomous agencies. The single test would also reduce the recruitment cycle by at least three months.

"We have reached the level of technological advancement where we can do it," the tech-savvy SSC chief said.