Class IV or JKPSC Exam

By: Shahid Majeed Mir

Recently JKSSB conducted a competitive exam meant for selection to the Class iv posts of various departments. As per reports almost five lakh students from various fields participated to test their luck for formal entry into the state public service. The exam was conducted in three phases due to mammoth applications called by the Commission. Although the exam was conducted smoothly barring some minor issues and misappropriate means by candidates. The statement from JKSSB called it a successful conduct of exam and prospective completion of recruitment process in one month in tune with fast recruitment spirit of the Government in charge. On one side jkssb narrative proved it a successful conduct while on the other side students claim that exam has been largely a difficult one compared to its level and mostly out of syllabus prescribed for the purpose. Are the claims true ? Is jkssb really habitual of such mistakes ? Are candidates really genuine in their demands ? These are the questions which use to be a part of the discussion after conduct of exam especially here in j and k keeping the JKPSC conundrum in mind.

It is noteworthy to state that every exam is conducted within the range prescribed in the syllabus which is almost elaborate to satisfy both the commission which sets paper and the students who are supposed to opt for the same. The friction occurs when there occurs a mismatch between what syllabus says and what paper demands in reality. This mismatch may occur due to various factors and as per various parameters which indeed put onus on the commission to take care off. On the ist instance syllabus demarcates only topics which include a syllabus in itself likewise the same syllabus demarcates the chapters of a subject which demands completion of basics ipso facto. In this scenario if syllabus includes the National Parks as a topic the commission puts simply a park and demands the student to know its feature barring its status as national or state while on the other side if syllabus includes some economy portion the question paper includes definition of some known economist in basics, this contrasting feature is indeed a thing unacceptable when there’s a fixed range in the syllabus. Either the syllabus shall be too elaborate to clarify everything or the examiner itself shall maintain the spirit of not going beyond whatsoever. This parameter shall never be violated as the candidates deem syllabus as a guiding factor running all through there scheme of things. Moreover the eligibility isn’t specific like lecturers and doctors but general which must be kept in mind while setting a paper. The notion of candidates to treat syllabus at face value is there liability being from varying backgrounds.

On the other parameter examiners shall be strictly guided by the competitive spirit and the level which might be determined by the commission initially for each exam comparing to its status. The recently concluded exam was meant to select class fourth employees which would have been kept in mind while framing such papers for candidates. Although commission may claim the competitive spirit for high profile scheme in the examination but that’s not an excuse for an exam. Examination is meant to test the competitive spirit within the syllabus itself. Any exam which seeks the selection on the basis of toughness and high profile choice of papers is indeed a grave injustice with the spirit of exam itself. Examination means to examine the capability of candidate to handle a situation whose particulars are familiar to him. The exam must be a test to examine the ability not a hide and seek meant to drop the candidates. Coming down to the criteria of limited slots for huge applications this dictum is a false claim to absolve  the commission from all the contrasting views which emerge after exam. What if the no of seats are increased to actual no of the applications? Does exam stand firm in a situation where the candidates are less than the actual needed for the seats?

An exam based on the spirit of testing capability satisfies the instinct of student in itself. Why always jkssb or JKPSC at fault why not UPSC or SSC? Doesn’t they conduct exams for whole union along length and breadth of country. It reflects a mismanagement and the track of the applications which are called for by the commission on their part. A commission supposed to decide the future of candidates in fair and transparent manner shall also be humane and introspective before conducting any such exam. There might be some errors but a grave injustice in the aspect of syllabus prescribed by the commission itself shall be abstained and arrested immediately else we may fail to persuade and enhance competitive spirit rather we would be driving towards a state where Candidates would merely deem it a formality to allow the favouritism. Commission is for candidates and candidates are fruits of commission they must be in tandem with laws and rules in force amid complete justice for the students within the norma set by law to gain legitimacy in the student fraternity which will be known by the cry of Merit always rule.

 

 Writer is an Author of the Book “Untold stories of Kashmir” hails from Kupwara and can be reached at [email protected]

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