JOIN USThe state Cabinet on Wednesday decided to increase the ratio in shortlisting the number of candidates for personality test for gazetted probationers’ examination conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) from the present 1:3 to 1:5.
This means the number of candidates called for interviews by KPSC for the gazetted probationers’ examination, popularily known as KAS examinations, will be 1:5, in proportion to the number of vacancies.
The Cabinet decision goes against the recommendation of the Hota committee constituted to suggest reforms to the KPSC. The panel had recommended that the ratio should be fixed at 1:3. However, Law Minister T B Jayachandra, who briefed reporters after the meeting, justified the decision stating that it will allow more candidates to appear for the personality test.
The Cabinet is learnt to have deferred taking a decision on its next step of action on an October 2016 order of Karnataka Administration Tribunal (KAT) that directed the government to segregate the 362 candidates of 2011 batch who had cleared their gazetted probationers’ examination as “tainted candidates” and appoint non-tainted candidates.
The state had scrapped the entire list of selected candidates of the 2011 batch on the basis of a CID report which had found large-scale irregularities in the conduct of the examinations by the KPSC. A section of candidates had challenged the government’s decision.
The Cabinet also gave its approval for setting up a government engineering college in Talakal village in Koppal district.
Other decisions
Budget session of the state legislature to be held between March 15 and 28.Budget to be presented on March 15
Approval for 100-bedded ‘Mother and Child Hospitals’ at Kolar and Sira
Approval for purchase of 2,000 wheelchairs for the physically challenged
100 more centres to be opened for purchase of tur dal from farmers
State government will write to Centre to fix supporting price for copra at Rs 11,555 per quintal