Staff Selection Commission Handled Over 91 Lakh Applications in 2011-12

SSC Handled Over 91 Lakh Applications in 2011-12. V. Naraynasamy Assures all Help to Meet Future Challenges Single Common Screening Test Under Consideration : Chairman

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) held a day long Workshop on Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions in Statistics in New Delhi today. Shri V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and PMO delivered the Inaugural Address. In his address Shri Naraynasamy lauded the work of SSC in ensuring impartiality and objectivity in the selection process and selecting the right candidates for different jobs. He assured all support to strengthen SSC in carrying out its plans for modernization so as to make the selection process faster. This, he felt, had become imperative in view of large number of applications that SSC has to handle. The minister felt that it was appreciable that no complaints were received so far SSC selections were concerned. The Minister asked the commission to have a moderation system so that candidates from the rural background do not suffer because of their social condition.

Chairman SSC, Shri N.K. Raghupathy, in his remarks said that the number of applications received by SSC in the past 3-4 years had gone up substantially. The Commission handled 61.78 lakh applications in 2010-11 compared to 19.64 lakh in 2009-10 and 10.27 lakh in 2008-09. In 2011-12 it had received 91.00 lakh applications as on 22.3.2012. In order to deal with the huge numbers, the Commission has mooted a proposal for A single Common Screening Test for different levels. The aim is to limit the ratio of second stage applications to vacancies. Presently this ratio is 260:1, he added. He further said that despite the large volume, the time taken by SSC to complete recruitment process is 12-13 months, compared to European nations’ 18-20 months.

Shri Raghupathy detailed the various measures/initiatives taken by SSC in the recent years to improve efficacy of the Commission. These include:

(i) Restructuring of all examinations and regrouping of posts based on the recommendations of the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission and an Expert Group constituted with the approval of the Government.
(ii) Revamping of website and its continuous updation with the objective of making the Commission’s ten websites the most important source of information relevant to the candidates. The revamped and user-friendly website of the Commission launched in October, 2009 has attracted a viewership 2.20 crore so far and has emerged as one of the largest viewed websites in the Government sector.
(iii) Placing of marks of the candidates at each stage of the examination.
(iv) Placing of answer keys of objective type examinations on the website, inviting objections, consideration of objection of the candidates with the assistance of experts and initiating corrective measures.
(v) All results and marks are placed on the website in PDF format, results on the same day of finalization and marks immediately thereafter.
(vi) Administration of skill tests on computer with no cost to the candidates and introduction of Computer Proficiency Test for certain posts. It is estimated that almost 75% of candidates selected by the Commission in 2010-11 have proficiency or working knowledge of computers.
(vii) Introduction of online applications since February, 2010, to the interest of the candidates and Government. It is estimated that each candidate registering online saves Rs.25 in postal and other costs and the Commission’s precious time as application processing is not required and data entry cost of Rs.4 to 5 per application. This has helped in reducing the duration of recruitment cycle too. Approximately 35 lakh applicants have registered online since its introduction and the per centage of online registration has been showing steady increase and touched 50% or above in recent examinations.
(viii) Introduction of measures in the HQ of the Commission for ensuring Zero error tolerance in vital confidential work.
(ix) Introduction of Quality Management Systems in Regional Offices with a view to effect continual improvement in the processes and to improve customer satisfaction levels. All nine Regional Offices of the Commission have obtained ISO 9001 : 2008 Certification for their Quality Management System. Western Regional Office at Mumbai is the last region to obtain the certification in March, 2012.

Examination restructuring and updation of syllabi require a well stocked and continuously replenished Question Bank of objective type question items. Therefore, the Commission has held 10 Question Bank Workshops so far. This is the 11th in the series. Through the Workshops held so far the Commission has added about 40,000 pre-validated objective type questions to its well stocked Question Bank in several subjects.

The Staff Selection Commission has been mandated with recruitment of Group ‘C’ non-technical and Group ‘B’ non-gazetted posts in various Ministries/Departments of Government of India and their Attached and Subordinate Offices except those for which recruitment is made by the Railway Recruitment Boards and Industrial Establishments.

The number of applications in the Commission’s recruitments and finally successful has increased manifold in the past three years as shown below:-

*  As on 22.03.2012

The number of candidates selected in 2011-12 may exceed 80,000 as some examination results are in the final stage of processing.

The credibility and improved efficiency of the Commission have been appreciated by its client organizations and candidates population as evidenced by the growing popularity of its recruitments. Ministry of Home Affairs has been utilizing the services of the Commission in recent years for recruiting Intelligence Officers, Sub-Inspectors, Assistant Sub-Inspectors (for CISF), Constables (GD)/Riflemen/Sepoy, etc. in the Central Armed Police Forces and A&N Administration. The Commission is also assisting the Food Corporation of India this in recruitment to lower middle levels. A proposal of Ministry of Home Affairs to utilize the services of the Commission for recruitment of Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police has been accepted in principle. A proposal to entrust recruitment of autonomous / statutory bodies to the Commission has also been under consideration of the Commission

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