NEW DELHI: There will be no requirement of interview for junior-level jobs in the central government from January 1. The move is intended to curb corruption and ensure selection in a transparent manner.

“The government has completed the entire process to do away with interviews. There will be no requirement of interview for Group D, C and Group B’s non-gazetted posts in central government. It will come into effect from January 1, 2016,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

READ ALSO: Soon, no interviews for low-rank govt jobs

Addressing the nation in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ programme on Sunday, Modi said there won’t be any interruption in the ongoing (recruitment) processes, but the decision would come into effect from January 1.

The PM had promised to abolish the requirement of interview for lower-ranking jobs in the central government in his Independence Day address. The move is expected to benefit lakhs of aspirants every year who have to appear for written tests as well as interviews for thousands of junior-level jobs in different central government departments.

Recalling his August 15 address, Modi said the practice was being abolished since it bred corruption and the poor were being looted by 'dalals' (middlemen).

“People were getting robbed for getting employment. It often crossed my mind as to why there was the need for an interview for small jobs. I have never heard of a psychologist who can evaluate a person during an interview of one to two minutes,” Modi said.

READ ALSO: For transparency in government jobs, Haryana cuts interview marks

He said abolition of the practice will particularly help the poor who would have to resort to “recommendations” or fall prey to brokers who made way with their money.

Nearly 95% of the total 36 lakh central government employees are fall under Group D, C and Group B’s non-gazetted categories. Only 5% of the total employees fall under Group A and Group B’s gazetted services where recruitments are mostly done by the Union Public Service Commission. Junior-level appointments, on the other hand, are made on the basis of written tests and interviews, conducted mainly by Staff Selection Commission (SSC).

Recently, minister for personnel Jitendra Singh had written to all chief ministers asking them to identify such posts which could be exempted from interviews.

READ ALSO: No more interview for sub-inspectors in Delhi Police

