The expert group instituted in February to review the existing test system of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has recommended making the examination online.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Wednesday invited comments within 10 days on the recommendations made by three working groups set up to deliberate on suggestions by the expert group set up under the chairmanship of former Union Public Service Commission Member I.M.G. Khan.
Earlier this month, the SSC conducted a national level workshop to discuss the recommendations. Working groups were formed to discuss issues pertaining to the National Screening Test & Technology, awareness campaign and the Central Armed Force (CAPFs).
The one on CAPFs agreed with the expert group's suggestion that the SSC should not conduct examination for posts for which academic qualification requirement is less than 10+2 standard. The CAPFs can conduct recruitment of Constable (General Duty) on their own if approved by the Union Home Ministry.
“In case the MHA does not agree with the suggestion of the expert group, the CAPFs recommend recruitment of 60 per cent of total vacancies done by the SSC on online exam basis,” the group said.
The group also flagged difficulties faced by delays in the recruitment process. The present cycle has been delayed by eight months and is likely to get delayed further. The SSC may continue recruitment of sub-inspectors through online examinations.
Other suggestions include use of biometrics at every stage, digital height-weight-chest measurement with webcam display, radio-frequency identification chip, barcoded pure carbon-less optical mark recognition, mobile jammers, CCTV recordings of all events and online validation of data.
The group on National Screening Test & Technology has suggested implementation of online exams without further delay and compulsory one-time online registration (updatable) system in all areas except the North-East, where necessary infrastructure is not available.
“The application would be web-based and mobile application will enable candidates to apply using mobile devices also.”
Although the expert group said that the National Screening test may not be feasible, the working group felt that the issue needed to be debated. It also suggested if private agencies, like universities and engineering colleges, could be used for exam infrastructure.
On the level of questions, the group recommended the SSC's control over question papers and graded difficulty for candidates with jumbled questions/answers.
Among other suggestions were randomisation of question papers before sending to each exam centre, making negative marking mandatory, uploading of answer keys along with question papers.
