New recruitment agency

For the security they offer, government jobs are a huge draw in the country despite the limited openings. An estimated 2.5 crore to 3 crore aspirants appear for about 1.25 lakh vacancies in the Central government every year. That number is bound to increase manifold as the pandemic continues to tear through the private sector, triggering massive job losses. The Union Cabinet’s approval to set up a National Recruitment Agency is a timely reform to streamline the hiring process and reduce the multiple examination cycle — saving both time and resources of candidates. Test centres in each district would reduce the financial strain of travel and stay, and the option of several languages to choose from is a step towards equal opportunity. The curriculum would be common.

A preliminary examination is proposed to shortlist candidates for Group B and C non-technical posts. In place of the current model of several exams by different agencies, a candidate would be able to apply for a vacancy with the respective agency based on the NRA common eligibility test score. The test will be conducted for three levels: graduate, higher secondary and matriculate candidates. The final selection shall be made through separate tiers of examination conducted by the respective recruitment agencies.

Conservative figures put at 61 lakh the number of salaried employees set to lose jobs this year. The unemployment rate among youngsters below the age of 25 could touch 32.5 per cent. These are not merely numbers, these are human stories. The pandemic-induced layoffs in the travel, tourism, food and services sectors have been on a massive scale. Employees once sacked are unlikely to be re-hired anytime soon, given the slow takeoff of the economy after the lockdowns. The governments have not done anything significant to help the private sector keep businesses afloat to save as many jobs as possible. Creating jobs is a challenge staring the Central and state governments in the face.