In a major relief for aspirants, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the Assam Direct Recruitment Exams (ADRE) will not follow the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) pattern. This announcement was made during a Facebook live stream, addressing the concerns and criticisms that had arisen over the past few days regarding the recruitment process.
Public Outcry Over Previous Decision on ADRE
The state government’s initial decision to hold direct recruitment exams for Grade III and Grade IV positions in three phases—preliminary, mains, and viva voce—similar to the state civil services exam pattern, received significant backlash. Many argued that this move would make it more challenging for candidates to secure state government positions. The criticism highlighted that the APSC-level exam pattern was too rigorous for these positions.
CM Sarma’s Announcement
In response to the public outcry, Chief Minister Sarma clarified, “ADRE exams will not be conducted in a similar pattern to the APSC. The question paper will not be of the level of APSC. It will be at par with matric and higher secondary exams.” This decision aims to make the recruitment process more accessible and less daunting for the candidates.
Challenges in Conducting Exams
Sarma also noted the logistical challenges involved in conducting the exams, stating, “Around 18 lakh applications have been received for 14,000 posts. We have to conduct exams at 2,100 centres. This becomes a challenge for the government.” To address these challenges, the government is working on simplifying the examination process.
Upcoming Exam Details
The Chief Minister mentioned that the exam syllabus will be released within the next two to three days, providing candidates with sufficient time to prepare. Additionally, police interviews are set to begin on October 3, marking the start of a streamlined recruitment process.
Government’s Reassessment
This announcement comes after CM Sarma’s earlier statement on social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), where he assured that the government would “revisit” the decision to change the ADRE exam pattern. “A government that listens! Based on feedback from various quarters regarding the sudden change in the ADRE exam pattern and the potential issues for aspirants, we have decided to revisit this matter and will inform everyone of our decision shortly,” Sarma wrote.
Conclusion
The revision of the ADRE exam pattern is a significant move by the Assam government to address the concerns of job aspirants and ensure a fair and accessible recruitment process. By aligning the exam difficulty with matric and higher secondary levels, the government aims to make state government positions more attainable for a broader pool of candidates.
Also read: RISING FOOD PRICES PUSH INDIA’S RETAIL INFLATION RATE BEYOND 5%
