CUTTACK: Resentment is brewing among Orissa Civil Service (OCS) aspirants because the Orissa Public Service Commission (OPSC) is yet to announce the examination schedule though it advertised to make recruitment to some 300 Class II posts five months ago.After a gap of six years, and much to the relief of the aspirants, the OPSC came out with an advertisement in August this year to recruit candidates for the posts, which include 73 OAS and 95 OFS officers.

The commission also announced that the recruitment process would be strictly in line with the UPSC pattern.

But, in the absence of a schedule for the three-tier examination yet, the aspirants are irked and are apprehensive that the OPSC may repeat what it had done during the previous examination.

In agitation mode

In 2000, the recruitment process stretched for over three years, and the OPSC drew flak, which ultimately saw the removal of then Chairman of the commission unceremoniously. Peeved about the inordinate delay in conducting the examination, the aspirants have once again threatened to take to the streets, questioning the efficacy and commitment of the OPSC. "At a time when we should be burning mid-night oil, we are thinking of launching a mass movement against the callous attitude of the OPSC," says an aspirant of the city.

Of the 50,000-odd applicants for the 2006 examination, over 20,000 are preparing by staying in Kolkata, Bangalore and New Delhi. "The aspirants are losing patience and zeal as preparation for the competitive examination in metro cities for years together is turning out to be a costly affair," says another aspirant from Bhubaneswar, who is currently staying in New Delhi.

Enormous exercise

When contacted, OPSC Secretary Prashant Kumar Samal said that the delay was due to the enormous exercise involved in the process of recruitment. "Since we are conducting the examination in the UPSC pattern for the first time, we need to be adequately cautious over every aspect. This is definitely a time consuming exercise," he asserted.

The earlier preliminary examination comprised subjective questions on English and Oriya as compulsory and qualifying papers.

But this time, it would comprise a general studies paper and an optional subject having objective multiple answer questions.

"Preparing objective type questions in all the 29 optional subjects is an Herculean task," Mr. Samal quipped.

He, however, did not say anything about the tentative examination schedule. "A clear picture about the schedule will emerge only towards the end of January 2007," he added.

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