A wake-up call for Haryana as engineers fail test

THE shocking revelation that 89 per cent of Haryana’s assistant and sub-divisional engineers failed their departmental professional examination should ring alarm bells far beyond the corridors of the Public Works Department. When only seven out of 61 engineers can clear the mandatory papers that test the basics of civil, electrical, mechanical and horticulture engineering, the consequences are not limited to failed careers. They strike at the heart of public safety, infrastructure quality and the state’s development trajectory. These are not ordinary employees; they are the engineers responsible for designing and maintaining roads, bridges, public buildings, irrigation systems and civic infrastructure used by millions daily. When the people entrusted with such critical tasks lack technical proficiency, the immediate casualty is the common man. Poorly designed roads mean more accidents. Substandard bridges and buildings increase the risk of structural failures. Delayed or defective projects burden taxpayers and stall economic growth.

The state government’s claims of “merit-based recruitment” now face serious credibility questions. If engineers selected through a competitive process cannot clear internal professional assessments, two possibilities arise: either the recruitment system is deeply flawed, or the state provides inadequate training and upskilling after hiring. Neither inspires confidence. The situation becomes more worrying when viewed alongside the similar high failure rate among veterinary doctors.

Infrastructure is the backbone of economic activity. A state aspiring to rapid industrial growth, urban expansion and rural connectivity cannot afford technical mediocrity in its engineering cadre. It should be a wake-up call for Haryana. It must strengthen recruitment evaluations, revamp induction training, enforce accountability for repeated failure and modernise departmental exams to reflect field requirements. Unless competence becomes non-negotiable, the state risks a weak future for its citizens.