Centre mulls over time frame for recruitment

Ministries asked to finish test, interviews within 6 months

Concerned with the long delay in completing the recruitment process, the government is now mulling to fix a time limit of six months from the last date of receipt of application to hold tests and interviews.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued draft guidelines to ministries seeking their comments after it came to light that ministries and departments making direct recruitment for various posts at the Centre by conducting competitive examinations and interviews are “not adhering to the time frame” fixed for the purpose.

“It is seen that in many cases, the time gap between the date of advertisement for the vacancy and date of examination or interview is unduly large and defeats the object of early recruitment,” the draft said reasoning out the need for fixing a time frame.

A delay by more than a year also denies the opportunity to fresh candidates who become eligible during that year, it noted. A senior official said it has come to their notice that on several occasions, it takes around two years to complete the recruitment process.

“All ministries and departments are, therefore, requested that while initiating the recruitment process to fill vacant post(s) by the method of direct recruitment, they may ensure that the recruitment process, i.e., conducting written examination or holding interviews is completed within six months from the closing date of receipt of applications mentioned in the advertisement,” the draft put for discussion said.

It is also planning to extend this to autonomous bodies, public sector units and statutory bodies that are under the administrative control of the ministries.The DoPT has asked all ministries to send their views on the draft by November 16.