The expert committee constituted by the TDP-led NDA government to study the issues affecting the efficiency of Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APSSC) has submitted its report, recommending reforms to address the gaps and enhance the performance of the commission.
The committee, headed by Special Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Cooperation Department (ex officio) B. Rajasekhar, after studying various aspects of the commission, which was established in 1956, identified significant challenges in the recruitment process mainly due to outdated processes and lack of transparency.
Speaking to The Hindu on Saturday, Mr. Rajasekhar said recruitment delays of two to five years were causing frustration among the candidates and increased litigation.
Lack of a job calendar, a sound IT infrastructure and alignment with national-level examination patterns are some of the issues plaguing the effective functioning of the commission. “The primary objective is to ensure smooth functioning of the APPSC,” he said.
Mr. Rajasekhar explained that the delay in notifications and recruitment process leads to age bar restrictions for many candidates, resulting in growing demands to raise the upper age limit. “These delays contribute to a backlog of vacancies, creating dissatisfaction among youth and leading to unnecessary litigation,” he said.
Citing a large number of writ petitions being filed by the candidates challenging various aspects of recruitment, including notification terms, qualifications, cut-off marks, vacancies and evaluation methods, he said it often took two or five years from the issuing of notification to the release of the final selection list.
“Currently, there is no clear job calendar or coordinated recruitment schedule for various posts under the APPSC, resulting in confusion and inefficiency,” said Mr. Rajasekhar, pointing out that multiple agencies such as APPSC, DSC and Departmental Boards/Agencies were responsible for different recruitment processes, complicating the system further.
“Lack of structured approach results in overlapping of conflicting recruitment efforts, confusion among candidates and administrative inefficiencies,” he said.
‘No IT wing’
“Currently, the APPSC does not have an IT wing that can monitor and streamline the recruitment process, making it difficult to track applications, conduct transparent evaluations, or handle large volumes of data,” says the report, adding that it affects the speed, accuracy and transparency of the recruitment process, creating opportunities for inefficiencies and malpractices.
Outdated classification and grouping of posts have been identified as another issue. “We have recommended a simple system, avoiding interviews for most exams,” said Mr. Rajasekhar, explaining that the categorisation of posts within the APPSC is based on G.O. Ms. No. 103, G.A. (Services-A) Department, dated February 3, 1967, with some amendments over time.
Proposed reforms
The panel has endorsed establishment of an IT wing with nine staff, including a Joint Director, programmers and a modernised workflow to reduce delays in recruitment and decision-making.
It has recommended a strong IT system with use of On-Screen Marking System (OMS) for evaluation of answer booklet, prevention of tampering and implementation of real-time monitoring with CCTVs and mobile jammers during examinations, besides the launch of a grievance redressal system for faster resolution of issues.
The reports said that the government should define a ‘panel year (September 1-August 31’, complete all recruitments by December 31 of the following year and enforce strict deadlines for vacancy notifications.
To ensure transparency in interviews, the candidates’ credentials should be masked and interview boards using software should be randomised, besides including at least one external expert in the interview panel.
To compile the report, the committee members visited the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi, and the Public Service Commissions of Rajasthan, Kerala and Bihar and studied their structure, functions and the best practices.
Published – January 26, 2025 05:59 am IST