NEW DELHI: Around 2.5 crore aspirants, who take separate, multiple examinations conducted by different recruiting agencies for selection to around 1.25 lakh government jobs advertised each year, will soon need to appear for a single online common eligibility test ( CET ) with the test scores remaining valid for three years for recruitment to any non-gazetted post.

In an important budget announcement that seeks to cut costs, inconvenience and time — for the government, recruiting agencies and candidates — taken in recruitment process for non-gazetted posts in the government and public sector banks, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said a National Recruitment Agency ( NRA ) was proposed for conduct of a computer-based CET for recruitment to non-gazetted posts. A test centre in every district, particularly in the aspirational districts, would be set up.

As of now, aspirants need to appear for multiple examinations conducted by different agencies at different points of time, for similar posts demanding similar eligibility criteria. “This places enormous burden on time, effort and cost of young people,” the minister pointed out.

The proposed CET found mention in the PM’s post-budget remarks as well. “At present, youths need to appear for separate examinations for recruitment to government jobs. We are revising this arrangement by starting an online common examination for such appointments,” he stated.

MoS(personnel) Jitendra Singh said CET would help candidates who lack financial resources by saving money on fees for multiple recruitment exams, apart from costs on travel to the test centre. “It will provide a level-playing field for aspirants,” he told TOI.

The CET score — valid for three years from date of declaration of the result — will be made available to the candidate as well as to the individual recruitment agency. Each candidate will have two additional chances to improve his score, and the best of all scores will be considered.

CET merit list may be made available to the states by NRA on cost-sharing basis, for undertaking recruitment to state government jobs. “The CET score can also be utilised by private sector for consideration of eligible candidates other than those selected by government recruitment agencies, through an arrangement with NRA,” said a government functionary.

The budget has estimated that more than 2.62 lakh jobs are likely to be created between March 2019 and March 2021 in various government organisations.

The strength of government establishments was 32,62,908 as on March 1, 2019.

The CET proposal was placed in the public domain in December, inviting comments of all central government departments, state governments and public. “We will incorporate the suggestions received and move a Cabinet note soon. Hopefully, the CET can be rolled out in the second half of this year,” said a government functionary.

Separate CETs shall be conducted for graduate, Class XII-pass and matriculate level candidates for non-technical posts, for which recruitment is currently done through Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) and Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS).

