Mumbai, June 26 (IANS) Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar on Friday announced that all upcoming MPSC preliminary examinations will be conducted through the Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode in the interest of candidates.

He said the Commission has initiated comprehensive reforms to reduce delays in examinations and ensure timely completion of the recruitment process.

Bhimanwar told reporters that candidates had been facing difficulties due to significant delays in the declaration of examination results and subsequent stages of the recruitment process.

To address this, the Commission has planned to declare preliminary examination results within 21 days.

He said that the recently announced State Services Preliminary Examination results were declared in just 22 days, and the Commission will now strive to announce the results of all preliminary examinations within 21 days.

He also added that the Commission has set a target of completing the entire recruitment process within the same calendar year in which the examination is conducted.

“The selection process for posts requiring interviews will be completed within 9 to 11 months, while recruitment for posts involving only a written examination will be completed within six to seven months.”

He said that this will provide greater certainty to candidates and reduce uncertainty regarding their careers.

Bhimanwar also clarified that the decision to adopt the CBT mode applies only to preliminary examinations.

There will be no change this year in the format of the Main Examinations for State Services, Group A, Group B or Group C posts.

The Main Examinations will continue to be conducted in the traditional manner.

He also said that CBT and the normalisation process are not new systems.

The Commission has already successfully conducted around 140 examinations using the CBT system.

He added that the CBT system is scientific, has been upheld by the court, and is widely accepted across the country.

Citing various recruitment agencies, he said the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts examinations for lakhs of candidates every year using the CBT and normalisation method.

Similarly, the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has successfully conducted recruitment examinations for around one crore candidates using the same system.

“In Maharashtra, the State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell recently conducted examinations for 16.30 lakh students through CBT and normalisation. The National Testing Agency (NTA) also follows the same method for its examinations,” he added.

Bhimanwar also expressed confidence that the CBT system will make the examination process more transparent, faster and time-bound, while significantly reducing delays in the recruitment process and providing relief to candidates.

–IANS

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