Focus: GS-II Governance, Prelims
Why in news?
- Applicants for jobs in railways, banks and lower levels of Central government will now write a common eligibility test (CET) from 2021 says: Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
- The CET will replace the first level tests conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS).
- In a bid to streamline the hiring process for government agencies as well as the 2.5 crore candidates who apply each year, the Centre will set up an autonomous National Recruitment Agency (NRA) to conduct this online test.
Advantages of CET
- This is not merely an administrative reform, but a huge socio-economic reform as well.
- It aims at providing a level playing field for all candidates by removing the obstacles involved in appearing for multiple examinations.
- For the recruiting agencies, the savings in terms of logistics are huge.
Common Eligibility Test (CET) and National Recruitment Agency (NRA)
- For the Recruitment of Non-Gazetted Posts by Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) and Staff Selection Commission (SSC) in Government Organization & Departments, Finance Minister made a major announcement in Union Budget 2020 covering the major exams like RRB NTPC, RRB Group-D, RRB Ministerial & Isolated Categories (MI), SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC JE, SSC MTS, SSC CPO, SSC GD Constable, SSC JHT & SSC Stenographer.
- It has been proposed that a National recruitment Agency (NRA) will be set up to conduct the Common Eligibility Test (CET) for the recruitment of Non-Gazetted Posts.
- Till now various government bodies like Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) or Cell (RRC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the major government exams at Pan India level.
- National Recruitment Agency (NRA) will perform the same role of conducting government exams for Non-Gazetted Posts across the different states, cities, and districts of India.
- Common Eligibility Test (CET) by National Recruitment Agency (NRA) Proposed in Budget 2020.
