Why in News ?
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pratibha Setu Portal to connect UPSC candidates who narrowly miss final selection with employment opportunities in public and private sectors.
- Launched during the Rozgar Mela, a platform distributing appointment letters for government jobs, highlighting youth employment initiatives.
Relevance
- GS-2 (Governance): Public service delivery, youth employment, government initiatives.
- GS-3 (Economy): Skill development, employment generation, digital governance, public-private collaboration.
- GS-3 (Infrastructure & Technology): Digital portals for recruitment and job matching.
Pratibha Setu Portal
- Objective: Ensure optimal utilisation of talent among candidates who qualify UPSC Written exams but do not clear the Personality Test.
- Functionality:
- Connects highly capable candidates with institutions seeking skilled talent.
- Bridges the gap between education/exam preparation and productive employment.
- Significance:
- Avoids wastage of trained and educated youth talent.
- Enhances public-private collaboration in talent acquisition.
UPSC Context
- 2024 UPSC Civil Services Exam:
- Written (Main) Exam qualifiers: 14,627 candidates.
- Personality Test qualifiers: 2,845 candidates.
- Final appointments: 1,009 candidates (725 men, 284 women).
- Implication: Majority of candidates who invest years in preparation remain unutilised, creating a talent gap.
Rozgar Melas
- Objective: Mass recruitment and appointment of youth in government jobs.
- Recent Achievements:
- Over 51,000 youth received appointment letters during the latest Rozgar Mela.
- Cumulative impact: Over 11 lakh appointment letters distributed in recent years.
- Government Schemes:
- PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: Targeting 3.5 crore employment opportunities.
- Skill India Mission: Bridging skill gaps.
- National Career Service (NCS) portal: Facilitates job matching, with 7+ crore vacancies shared.
Policy Rationale
- Youth Empowerment: Leveraging skills and hard work of young candidates.
- Talent Retention: Prevents brain drain and demotivation among highly trained aspirants.
- Nation-building: Encourages capable youth to contribute to public and private sectors.
- Digital Integration: Portal ensures direct engagement between talent and institutions, increasing transparency.
Political & Social Significance
- Portal launch coincided with Rozgar Mela, symbolically marking a “double Diwali” — festival + employment.
- Enhances government’s image of youth-centric governance.
- Promotes Nagarik Devo Bhava, encouraging dedication, service, and integrity among recruits.
Data & Facts
- Total civil servants recruited (2024): 1,009.
- Rozgar Mela appointments: 51,000 in recent event; 11 lakh cumulatively.
- UPSC Written Exam qualifiers not selected: ~11,782 candidates (14,627 – 2,845).
- NCS platform: >7 crore vacancies shared.
- PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: Targeting 3.5 crore jobs.
Key Takeaways
- Pratibha Setu: Addresses underutilised talent among UPSC candidates.
- Rozgar Melas: Provide large-scale employment, reinforcing youth empowerment policies.
- Integrated Approach: Combines digital platforms, skill development, and government employment schemes.
- Supports India’s vision of harnessing youth potential for national growth and governance.
