MPSC recruitment reform panel gets 18,000 suggestions, students seek 90-day appointment rule
The high-level committee reviewing MPSC recruitment has received over 18,000 emails and suggestions, with candidates demanding jobs within 90 days of results.
The state government had formed a high-level committee to reform the process, methodology and issues like paper leaks in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission, MPSC, and other government recruitment examinations. The committee has so far received more than 18,000 emails and suggestions from candidates across the state.
After Pune, the most responses came from the Nagpur division, from where 7,600 emails were received. In addition, more than 400 students and candidates met the committee directly to raise their problems and suggestions. Committee chairperson and Additional Chief Secretary of the state General Administration Department V. Radha said this was the first time in the country that a committee was speaking directly with students. She said that after reviewing all the suggestions, the committee would submit its detailed report to the government within three months.
Besides chairperson V. Radha, those present at the interaction session included Maharashtra Director General of Police Sadanand Date, member secretary and Secretary of the Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Department Ramaswamy, IIT Bombay's Shyamprasad Kargadde and former UPSC member (retired) Ajit Bhosale.
Committee chairperson V. Radha herself acknowledged that students complain of working hard continuously for five years while no recruitment drives are held for two years at a stretch. When exams are held, cases of paper leaks and corruption surface. Candidates expressed strong displeasure over the selection process, delays in checking answer sheets and delays in appointments.
V. Radha also clarified that the role of the Special Investigation Team, SIT, is separate, as it will investigate criminal cases of paper leaks and corruption and take action against the guilty. The main task of this high-level committee is to make MPSC and other recruitment systems stronger, more modern and transparent.
After Nagpur district, the committee will now visit Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and the Konkan region, after which the entire interaction process will end on September 30.
Candidates gave the committee five key suggestions. First, the exam structure should be transparent, the standard of exams should be improved and exams should be held offline. Second, an annual exam calendar should be released, like UPSC does, and strictly followed. Third, errors in question papers should be removed and a fair marking system adopted. Fourth, the "opting out" policy in the selection process should be implemented clearly and smoothly. Fifth and most important, selected candidates should be given postings, that is appointments, within 90 days of the declaration of the final result.
