Class XII kids, Govt needs you

In a bid to tap the ‘‘best and the brightest’’ talent for future governance, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has initiated...

In a bid to tap the ‘‘best and the brightest’’ talent for future governance, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has initiated a major step on administrative reforms proposing a national entrance examination for an ‘‘All India and Central Services’’ at the Class XII (higher secondary) level rather than at the present graduate level.

The government plans to post this radical proposal on the website of the Department of Personnel and Training (www.persmin.nic.in/dopt/index.html) for suggestions and debate. The feedback will then be factored in by the new Administrative Reforms Commission to be headed by Prime Minister Singh.

In fact, keeping up with his promise of a new code of governance, Singh has already initiated a series of steps in the first round of administrative reforms. A final decision on these reforms will also be discussed with the state governments at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting.

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The new proposal envisages an All India Entrance Examination for All India (IAS, IPS and Forest Service) and Central Services (including Foreign Service) for Class XII students on the pattern of NDA, Medical, Law Colleges and IITs. The recruiting procedure, however, would adhere to the existing reservation quota and requirements of individual All India Services.

At present, the current crop of civil servants are chosen from a pool of 3 lakh candidates that apply for the UPSC examination after completing their graduation.

The candidates so selected are trained for another two years before going out into the field.

The new proposal will automatically enlarge the recruitment pool manifold with Class XII students applying for the civil services directly rather than going for professional courses. This method of recruitment is followed in France and Singapore.

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Under this system, Class XII students, who pass this test, would be sent to a National Academy for a five-year course.

At the end of three years, a graduate degree would be given to those clearing the normal examinations.

While the best candidates would be given their service allotments on basis of merit and choice at the end of three years, those at the bottom of the pool would be ‘‘released’’ for seeking other jobs in the market.

The remaing candidates with their service allotments would then go in for a two-year service specific course that will cater to requirements of their respective fields.

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The candidates would be futher subjected to annual examination during these two years and from among these, students would be selected for a further service-specific course for another two years leading to a degree equivalent to MBA. If there are some candidates that are not found up to the mark, the proposal envisages a filter to release them into the market with their MBA-equivalent degrees. The rest would then become civil servants.

Official sources said that feed back from public would be examined by the new Administrative Reforms Commission before a green signal is given to this proposal.

Here’s what the idea is all about, floor open for debate

To increase talent pool manifold from current 3 lakh; system followed in France, Singapore

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• A national entrance exam (like IITs) for civil service (IAS, IPS and Forest Service) and Central Services (including Foreign Service).

• Those who clear test will go to a National Academy for a 5-yr course.

• Those who clear 3 yrs will get a graduate degree.

• Best will get service allotments on merit and choice at end of 3 yrs; those at bottom ‘‘released’’ .

• Those with service allotments for 2-yr service-specific course

• Annual exams during these 2 yrs; students selected for a further service-specific course for another 2 yrs leading to a degree equivalent to an MBA