Railways to conduct just 1 computer-based test for recruitment

The Railway Recruitment Board on Thursday agreed to meet the demands of job aspirants who recently protested against irregularities in Level-1 and NTPC examinations.

In a major reversal of its policy to hold the Level-1 exams to recruit Group-D employees through two computer-based tests (CBTs), the railways has now agreed to conduct only a single test.

The recruitment drive for the Non Technical Popular Categories (NTPCs) for 35,281 vacant posts, in various categories ranging from junior clerk, train assistant, guard, time-keeper to station master, was at the centre of widespread protests in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand earlier this month.

The protesters alleged that while more than seven lakh “applications” were shortlisted, the actual number of candidates was around 3.84 lakh.

The railways on Thursday said the number of “unique candidates” shortlisted pay level wise will be 20 times higher than that of vacant posts for the second-stage computer-based test for the NTPCs.

It also said the candidates already announced qualified will continue to remain qualified and the list of the additional candidates getting shortlisted at each pay level will be notified.

The railways also said the revised results of all the pay levels will be declared by the first week of April, the second-stage CBT for pay level 6 will be held in May, and the second-stage CBT for the other pay levels will be conducted after a reasonable gap.

“It has been decided to follow revised methodology with special conditions for conduct of CBT for Level-1 due to elimination of 2nd stage CBT, etc.

“This will involve mobilising of additional infrastructure and logistics to conduct CBT for Level-1 with significant increase in per shift requirement. Efforts will be made to have the exam conducting agency on board to conduct the CBT for Level-1 as early as possible. Hence, CBT for Level-1 is planned to be held tentatively from July 2022 onwards,” the railways said in a statement.