Important News for NRA CET 2022, Check Now

NRA CET News

The National Recruitment Agency (NRA) is set to revolutionize the recruitment process for Group B and C positions within the Central government starting next year. The agency will introduce the Common Eligibility Test (CET) as the cornerstone of this transformation, initially focusing on the graduate-level CET scheduled for May-June. With over a thousand examination centers across 117 districts, including all district headquarters, candidates from various sectors, such as central and state governments, public enterprises, and the private sector, will have the opportunity to utilize their CET scores for recruitment. These scores will remain valid for a period of three years, with biannual CET examinations planned.

Previously, recruitment for these positions was conducted separately by different agencies, including the Service Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Board, and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection. However, the NRA has taken the initiative to streamline the process, encompassing various sectors and levels within the government. An Expert Advisory Committee has been actively working on the CET syllabus, examination scheme, fees, and normalization procedures.

Furthermore, the NRA is on the verge of finalizing its digital testing platform, which will be crucial for conducting examinations efficiently. Collaborations and discussions have been initiated with the Railway Board, banking institutions, and the Service Selection Commission to ensure a seamless transition.

Addressing the challenges of simultaneously conducting CET examinations at three levels (10th, 12th, and graduation), the Standing Committee of Parliament recommended commencing with the graduate-level CET. Additionally, the committee suggested that the Railway Recruitment Board expand the number of examination centers to ensure that candidates can access centers within a 100-200 km radius. The banking recruitment agency has also been advised to enhance its capacity to accommodate 1.25 lakh candidates in a single session.

A senior NRA official highlighted the inefficiencies of the current system, where more than 50 examinations are conducted by different agencies, leading to a lengthy 12-18 month process from notification to selection. The introduction of a common test promises to significantly reduce this timeline. For instance, over the last five years, the Railway Recruitment Board issued seven notifications for 2,83,747 C-Group vacancies, successfully recruiting 1,43,034 candidates, with the remaining 1,40,713 posts in various stages of the selection process. It is worth noting that the National Recruitment Agency was established by the Central government in December 2020 to bring about these much-needed reforms in the recruitment process.