Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training) has proposed to create a specialized agency to conduct a Common Eligibility Test (CET). This proposed CET will be the basis for shortlisting candidates for the purpose of appointment to all group B non gazetted posts, some group B gazetted posts, group C posts in the various ministries, departments, offices of the Government.
Common Eligibility Test 2019 notification has been released by the ministry highlighting key features of the planned exam. Through this notification, the ministry is also inviting feedback and suggestions from everyone including candidates preparing for government job exams.
The plan is to have a single exam to replace all the exams that are as of now held by the number of government recruitment bodies in India for the said posts. This will eliminate the need for job seekers to fill multiple forms or undergo preparations for different exams. At present the various bodies hold tier 1 online exam, tier 2 objective or descriptive test, and tier 3 skill test.
This common eligibility test will be a computer based online exam. CET will only be to shortlist candidates. Shortlisted candidates will then undergo specialized tests created for the specific posts.
If the proposal is approved, then first of all the specialized agency will hold those exams which are currently conducted by RRBs that recruit for Indian Railways, IBPS that do so for different banks, and SSC that opens gateways for different departments of the government.
Instead of having one CET, there will be three different Common Eligibility Tests. As per the notification, there will be one each for graduates, class 12th pass candidates, and class 10th pass candidates.
The scope of CET will be wide; individual recruitment agencies can also avail the common eligibility test scores. Also state governments can enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the agency that will hold the exam to use its scores for state level recruitment. Also, central government can accept its results for recruitment to posts other than the ones offered through SSC. Private sector companies can also utilize the test scores.
Candidates can appear not just once, not twice, but three times. After the initial attempt candidates will get 2 additional attempts to improve their scores and best of the three will be used for the purpose of selection.
Moreover, CET score will be valid for three years.
Inviting suggestions from all, the ministry says “Comments on the proposal can also be furnished online at asestt-doptgov.in, with the subject of email written as Comments on CET”. Last date for receipt of suggestions is one month from date of issuance of the CET notification. DoPT adds, “stakeholders are also requested to suggest a suitable name for the proposed specialized agency”.
