New Delhi, Aug 19: In a major reform, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved setting up of a National Recruitment Agency to conduct computer-based Common Eligibility Test for Central Government jobs.
The decision taken at today’s Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pave the way for reform in the recruitment process for Central government jobs by amalgamating three agencies — Railway Recruitment Board, Staff Selection Commission and Institute of Banking Personnel Selection.
Stating that this was a long-standing demand of the young job seekers and would put an end to mental stress and running around, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar briefing the press after the Cabinet meeting said this would do away with taking several tests and running to various centres.
The National Recruitment Agency (NRA) will be an autonomous society under Societies Act having representatives from SSC, RRB and IBPS. NRA will conduct Tier-1 examination-Common Eligibility Test (CET), an online examination. Further, every district will have at least one exam centre.
With this, the preliminary exam for all non-gazetted posts comprising Group B and C (non-technical) posts will be held in common.
The candidates who qualify the exam will apply to any of the recruitment agencies for higher level of examination.
The validity of the test score will be for three years and there will be no bar on the number of attempts subject to the upper age limit.
At present, the exams conducted by three agencies: banking personnel selection agency IBPS, Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) and the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will be unified.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh told reporters the setting up of the agency will bring ease of recruitment, ease of selection and thereby ease of living for aspirant candidates.
Briefing mediapersons about the National Recruitment Agency, C Chandramouli, Secretary to the Government, said, “There are almost more than 20 recruitment agencies in central government. Although we are making exams of only three agencies common as of now, in course of time we will be able to have Common Eligibility Test for all recruitment agencies.”
The merit list of Common Entrance Test will remain valid for three years during which the candidate can apply for jobs in different sectors depending upon his aptitude and preferences.