Selection of candidates for Group B and Group C posts, which form the bulk of Central government posts, nearly doubled in 2023-2024 compared to the previous year and was the highest in at least 10 years, according to data released recently by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. These posts include lower division clerks, stenographers, junior engineers and sub-inspectors in CAPF. Based on open exam and departmental exams for promotion carried out by SSC, a total of 1,41,487 candidates were recommended for recruitment in 2023-24, says the ministry’s annual report. These candidates were selected out of 2.57 crore aspirants who registered for the exams. The highest number of selections (46,554) was for posts of constable in the CAPF, rifleman in Assam Rifles and sepoy in the NCB. An analysis of the SSC’s annual reports from 2014-15 to 2022-23 and Ministry’s report for 2023-24, shows that last year’s selections were the highest in 10 years. In 2014-2015, 58,066 candidates were selected. In 2022-2023, the SSC selected 73,721 candidates out of 2.82 crore registrations. “The SSC is one of the largest recruiting agencies in India in terms of the number of candidates who apply for various posts in the Central government,” the Ministry’s report says. It is mandated to recruit for all Group B (non-gazetted) and Group C (non-technical) posts in the Union government ministries and their attached and subordinate offices. The latest available data from the Department of Expenditure shows that 33.42% of the sanctioned posts of Group B and 23.77% of the Group C posts were vacant as of March 1, 2023. Overall for Group A to C, the vacancies stood at 24.21% in 2022-2023, the DoE annual report shows. Meanwhile, the UPSC carried out 15 exams in which 33.51 lakh candidates appeared in 2022-23 and 4,195 were recommended for appointments. Out of the 1,697 reserved posts for SC, ST, OBC and EWS candidates, the UPSC recommended candidates for 83% (1,409) posts. “07 cases of malpractices, committed by the candidates, were reported to the Commission relating to suppression of information, submission of false/fabricated documents, possession of mobile phones etc. The Commission took serious note of such cases and after following due process, imposed penalties on the delinquent candidates, ranging from cancellation of their candidature to their debarment up to a period of 10 years from future examination/selections, conducted by the Commission,” the Ministry report says.
