Common Eligibility Test (CET) – Public Notice

Common Eligibility Test (CET) Proposal – Public Notice by DoPT

Annexure 

Salient features of the proposal to set up a multi agency body to conduct Common Eligibility Test for short listing candidates for appointment to  subordinate posts in the Government of India and its instrumentalities: 

1. Introduction: 

1.1                         At present, candidates seeking government jobs have to appear for

multiple separate examinations conducted by various recruiting agencies for posts, for which similar eligibility criterion have been prescribed. These recruitment examinations comprise of multiple layers viz. Tier-I, Tier-II, Tier-III, Skill Tests etc. Ordinarily, the Tier-I examination comprises of a computer-based online multiple choice objective type test. Every year, approximately 2.5 crore candidates appear in multiple such recruitment examinations for approximately 1.25 lakh vacancies.

1.2     It is proposed to introduce a Common Eligibility Test (CET) to shortlist

candidates for vacancies of Group ‘B’ Non-Gazetted posts, certain Group ‘B’ Gazetted posts, Group ‘C’ posts in the Government and equivalent posts in instrumentalities of the Government through a computer based online examination to be conducted exclusively by a specialized agency.

• Objectives of the proposal: 

2.1           The objectives of the proposal are as under:

• To mitigate the hardship faced by candidates who have to appear for multiple examinations conducted by multiple agencies, where similar eligibility conditions have been prescribed.
• To bring in savings to the candidates towards multiple application fees and travelling cost to appear in these examinations.
• To improve access to rural candidates by setting up at least one test centre in every district.
• To facilitate candidates to schedule tests and choose an examination centre of their choice.
• To reduce the time taken in the selection process.
• To facilitate employment generation.

Salient features of the proposal: 

     There shall be common registration of candidates through an on-linePortal.

• To begin with, separate CETs shall be conducted for the Graduate, the Higher Secondary (12^thpass) and the Matriculate (10^th pass) candidates for non-technical posts for which recruitment is currently carried through the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the Railway Recruitment Boards(RRBs) and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS).
• The score obtained by the candidate in the CET will be made available to him as well as to the individual recruitment agency.
• The score of a candidate will be valid for a period of three years from the date of declaration of result.
• Each candidate will have two additional chances to improve his score, and the best of all available scores shall be deemed to be the current score of the candidate.
• Final selection for recruitment shall be made through separate specialized examinations to be conducted by the respective recruitment agencies.
• Role of/participation by State Governments: 

4.1           State Governments/UT Administrations may also use the results of CET oncost sharing basis by entering into MoUs with the specialized agency for CET. States too could tap this robust mechanism for undertaking recruitment to State Government jobs.

4.2 The CET score of the candidates can also be used by Central Government Ministries/Departments for any recruitment made other than through the SSC.

4.3     The CET score can also be utilized by private sector, for consideration of

eligible candidates, other than those selected by Government recruitment agencies, for appointment in their organizations, by entering into an arrangement with the specialized agency for CET.

• Suitable name of the organization: 

5.1         Stakeholders are also requested to suggest a suitable name for the proposedspecialized agency.