All ABOUT National Recruitment Agency (NRA) and Common Eligibility Test (CET): Landmark Exam Reform for Youth and the Nation: One Nation One Exam

The National Recruitment Agency (NRA) was first proposed by the government in the Union Budget 2020. The agency will be an "independent, professional, specialist organisation and will conduct an exam, which would be known as the Common Eligibility Test, for selection to government jobs," Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned in the Union Budget.

The Union Cabinet on 09.08.2020 approved a proposal to set up a National Recruitment Agency (NRA) that will conduct Common Eligibility Test (CET) for selection to non-gazetted posts in the central government and public sector banks.

This decision will benefit the job-seeking youth of the country.

"There are 1.25 lakh vacancies every year in Group B and C for Railways, banks and SSC for which 2.5 crore-3 crore people apply."

Thus, this is a historic decision for recruitment.

SINGLE EXAM FOR ALL NON-GAZETTED POSTS

There will be a single entrance examination for all non-gazetted posts — Group B and C posts. Candidates who qualify this Common Entrance Test (CET) can apply to any recruitment agencies for a higher level of examination.

MODE OF EXAM

The exam will be held on computer-based.

LANGUAGE OF EXAM

The agency will conduct exams in 12 languages, and it will be expanded to include more regional languages.

VALIDITY AND NUMBER OF ATTEMPT

The score will be valid for three years during which the candidate can apply for jobs in different sectors depending upon his/her aptitude and preferences. There will be no bar on the number of attempts.

REGISTRATION AND FEE

Common registration, single fee, and common curriculum are among the benefits for candidates.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE BENEFITED

On average, 2.5 crore to 3 crore candidates appear in each of these exams.

MAIN BENEFIT FOR THE CANDIDATE

No candidate will have to travel outside their district.
The result will be valid for three years.
No restriction on the number of attempts.
Valid for Central as well as State Recruitment.
Can also be used for private recruitment.
The exam will be conducted twice in a year.
This will directly benefit the 2.5 crore-3 crore people who are applying for these jobs every year.

PURPOSE, BENEFIT AND PLAN

DoPT Secretary C. Chandramouli says

“"Some of the problems faced by candidates are the multiplicity of exams, fees, dates and expenses” therefore

“Railways, Banks and SSC examinations will be brought under the newly formed agency”

"There are more than 20 recruitment agencies in the Central government. Right now, we are bringing 3 agencies under the National Recruitment Agency and will eventually bring all of them under it"

"There are 1.25 lakh vacancies every year in Group B and C for Railways, banks and SSC for which 2.5 crore-3 crore people apply."

"The National Recruitment Agency will conduct the tier-1 examination for these three agencies online."

"This will bring ease of recruitment, ease of selection and thereby ease of living for aspirant candidates," Union Minister Jitendra Singh said.

CURRENT SITUATION

On average, 2.5 crore to 3 crore candidates appear in each of these exams.

At present, the exams conducted by three agencies: banking personnel selection agency IBPS, railway recruitment board RRB and the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will be unified.

"There are almost more than 20 recruitment agencies in the central govt. Although we are making exams of only three agencies common as of now, in course of time we will be able to have Common Eligibility Test for all recruitment agencies”, C Chandramouli, secretary to the government said in the Cabinet meeting.

It will provide a level playing field, a great boon particularly for economically deprived who cannot afford travelling to multiple centres, youth in far-flung areas with difficulty to reach different centres and women candidates who are unable to travel to different cities because of constraints of travel and stay.

WHAT ABOUT HIGHER RANK SERVICES AND UPSC

The agency will conduct a single entrance exam for tens of thousands of positions that the government and PSUs advertise for every year. The current recruitment model comprises several exams by different recruitment agencies including some by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The UPSC, however, will continue to deal with top administrative exams, including the coveted civil services exams.

SIMILAR HISTORY

In the past, the government had brought similar changes to reduce the burden of the similar multiple exams. For an example Banking Personnel Selection Agency (IBPS), and Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET), Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE), All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admission, and many other reforms.

Thus we can conclude that this is a historic decision benefitting job seeking youth of the country. This will serve as a label field for all candidates, especially who can not make an effort for many similar exams for different recruitment agencies. This will reduce the financial burden, time burden and mental stress to the candidate all from the exam point of view.

The similar demands are also pending for the college and university faculty recruitments. Because as of now in most of the cases the only person with contact and buttering can become the faculty even Ah Hoc in the University of Delhi as well as in other universities. 


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