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PSC may start online exams for select jobs

Special Correspondent

Rank lists to be published within six months of notification

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Public Service Commission (PSC) is exploring possibilities of introducing an online application and examination system for select jobs and creating a question bank for various examinations, Chairman of the commission M. Gangadhara Kurup said here on Sunday.

Mr. Kurup told presspersons that the commission was working on an action plan to publish rank lists within six months after notifying vacancies, by 2007. This could be achieved through computerisation and increasing manpower and infrastructure. Owing to a steady increase in the number of applicants every year, there was a corresponding rise in the commission's workload too.

He said the commission had succeeded in publishing the rank lists within a year after notifying vacancies. The online application system would not be a substitute to the existing mechanism, he added.

Noting that 41 lakh applications were pending clearance, at present, he said that between 2001 and 2005, the commission cleared 1.44-crore applications and issued advice memo to 1.32-lakh candidates.

Six years ago, the commission had a backlog of 92-lakh applications; it was brought down to 32 lakhs within two-and-a-half years by streamlining the functioning.

He said bureaucratic delay in reporting vacancies in various departments and public sector undertakings led to corrupt practices.

Following a Cabinet decision on averting the practice, now, there was considerable improvement in reporting the vacancies on time.

Teachers' recruitment

In reply to a question, Mr. Kurup said there were two-lakh teaching staff in aided schools and colleges.

Although their salaries were being paid by the Government, only 40 per cent of them were being recruited by the commission.

He said the commission should be entrusted with the recruitment of these staff. Since the Government was bearing the expenses on salaries, the commission should recruit them, he added.

The commission had stopped collecting question papers after examinations, and now, it published the answer key before evaluating the answer scripts. Candidates got a chance to point out the lapses within 15 days, and the commission got a chance to rectify the errors.

The golden jubilee celebrations of the commission spanning six months would begin on Wednesday. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan would inaugurate the celebrations and lay the stone for a golden jubilee complex. Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy will preside over the function. Minister for Law M. Vijayakumar would deliver the keynote address.

Seminars and symposiums would be held in the State as part of the celebrations, Mr. Kurup added.

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