Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission Reviews 10-Year Recruitment Calendar

The GARC’s sixth report, submitted by Chairperson Hasmukh Adhia, has concluded that delays in filling vacancies in the Secretariat departments and other government offices adversely affect administrative functioning. The report warns that demographic dividend-like youth should be provided with proper opportunities and employment avenues so that their potential can be utilised in building Gujarat. The report contains nine major recommendations.

Key Recommendations of GARC

1. Fixed timeline for completing the recruitment process

The report recommends that recruitment processes with three stages be completed within 9 to 12 months, and those with two stages within 6 to 9 months, and that in the future, recruitment should be completed in even shorter timelines.

2. Combined Recruitment and Common Entrance Test (CET)

It suggests conducting common prelims and subject-wise mains examinations for various cadres with similar educational qualifications to bring uniformity in the recruitment process. This would significantly reduce administrative and financial costs incurred on holding multiple examinations for similar cadres, thus speeding up recruitment.

3. Two fixed requisition windows each year

It recommends two fixed requisition windows annually, enabling all departments to submit online requisition forms. Additionally, it proposes creation of a central cell for recruitment rules, examination rules, and training rules. This would expedite finalisation of rules and accelerate the recruitment process.

4. Fully digital document verification (IASS)

Replacing the current manual verification with a fully digital verification system, including an API-linked database similar to DigiLocker and a unique candidate document registry, would allow seamless transmission of documents between recruitment agencies and government departments and make document verification more effective.

5. Candidate-friendly, end-to-end dashboard

The report recommends an end-to-end dashboard linked to a unique candidate ID, allowing tracking of the entire process from application to appointment. It also proposes a facility enabling candidates to choose district postings digitally.

6. Fully digital workflow from requisition to appointment

A unified digital portal would enable information exchange among departments – agencies – candidates, eliminating the need for candidates to repeatedly submit identical documents to different recruitment agencies. This would promote ease of doing business and uniformity.

7. Capacity enhancement and restructuring of recruitment agencies

The report recommends setting up a new Medical Services Recruitment Board (MSRB) for the recruitment of medical specialists under the Health & Family Welfare Department, and granting administrative and financial autonomy to GSSSB, GPSSB, and GPRB equivalent to the Gujarat Public Service Commission.

8. Extensive use of Computer-Based Tests

It suggests that as many examinations as possible be conducted in computer-based mode. For effective monitoring of such exams, each recruitment agency should establish a separate Exam Monitoring Unit (EMU).

9. Ten-year recruitment calendar

GARC has recommended undertaking a review of 10-year recruitment calendars for each department based on future requirements, identifying critical and emergency service cadres, and ensuring their recruitment as quickly as possible.

During the submission of the sixth report of GARC to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Chief Secretary M.K. Das, Adviser to the Chief Minister S.S. Rathore, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Avantika Singh, Principal Secretary of the Administrative Reforms Department Hareet Shukla, CM’s Secretary Vikrant Pandey, and officials of GARC were present.