Shillong, Aug 26: The State Cabinet has accepted the report of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission Reforms Committee (MPSCRC), which aims to improve the efficiency, productivity, and transparency of the recruitment process in the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC).
The report was submitted by the committee headed by Principal Secretary FR Kharkongor.
“The committee has submitted its report and we have accepted the report in total in the cabinet today,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters after chairing a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Sangma informed that the cabinet has suggested installing CCTVs and recording devices during the interview process to ensure transparency and accountability.
“In addition (to the recommendations of the committee), the cabinet has suggested that there should be CCTVs and proper recording done during the interview process and cameras should be there so that if there is any kind of question or any issue that arises then those can be referred to,” he said while assuring that the report will be soon made public to ensure transparency and accountability in the recruitment process.
Highlighting the key reforms, Sangma said that there short terms measures and medium and long-term measures recommended by the committee.
The short-term measures include options of having multiple boards for faster interview process, setting up of interview protocols, declaration of assets and liabilities by chairman and members, creation of a grievance cell, public disclosure of marks secured by candidates,releasing of answer keys after examination etc.
“Specific timeframe to be given for challenging the answer keys and addressing any complaints related to corruption and vigilance in the MPSC through the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014,” Sangma said while maintaining that no changes are allowed to be made in recruitment process once the process has started.
In regards to the medium and long-term measures, the chief minister said the committee has recommended computer-based tests, strengthening of MPSC cells in Jowai or Tura, combined competitive examinations and discontinuation of optional papers.
“…the combined competitive examinations, which means that examination for the same qualification and the same scale could be combined together to avoid any kind of repetition or delay. Regarding the discontinuation of the optional paper, we have already done last time for Meghalaya Civil Services (MCS) exams and we will be doing for the other exams also in the coming days,” he announced.
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