Lok Sabha Question No. 133 (STARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: National Recruitment Agency
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: T. R. Paarivendhar, Thirumaa Valavan Thol

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 133

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2021)

## NATIONAL RECRUITMENT AGENCY

## *133. DR. T.R.PAARIVENDHAR: SHRI THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOL:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Union  Government  has  taken  a  decision  to  set  up  National  Recruitment Agency  (NRA)  to  recruit  personnel  for  appointment  in  various  cadres/  jobs  in  Union Government, public sector, private sector, banks and even in all State Governments in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  reasons  and  purpose  for  setting  up  the  proposed  NRA  and  by  when  the  proposed NRA is likely to be functional;
- (c) whether NRA would be an independent statutory body and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the categories of employees along with the names of the Departments for which they will be recruited by NRA; and
- (e) whether  exclusive  State  Recruitment  Centre  will  be  established  in  each  State  and reservations for the natives of the State will be provided and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (e):    A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION NO.133 FOR 10.02.2021 BY DR. T.R. PAARIVENDHAR AND SHRI THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOL REGARDING NATIONAL RECRUITMENT AGENCY

At  present,  candidates  seeking  government  jobs  have  to  appear  for  separate  Tier-I examinations conducted by multiple recruiting agencies for various posts. Candidates have to pay fee to multiple recruiting agencies for appearing in Tier-I/first stage of Computer Based Test. Every  year, approximately  2.5  crore  candidates appear  in multiple recruitment examinations for approximately 1.25 lakh vacancies. Candidates have to pay fee to multiple recruiting  agencies  for  appearing  in  Tier-I/first  stage  of  Computer  Based  Test  and  have  to travel long distances to appear in such examinations. These multiple recruitment examinations are a burden on the candidates, as also on the respective recruitment agencies, involving avoidable/repetitive  expenditure, law  and  order/security  related  issues  and  venue related problems.

2. Government  has  set  up  the  National  Recruitment  Agency  (NRA),  vide  order  dated 28.08.2020,  to  conduct  first  level  screening  of  candidates  through  a  Common  Eligibility  Test (CET) at the Graduate, the Higher Secondary and the Matriculate levels for the Staff Selection Commission  (SSC),  the  Railway  Recruitment  Boards  (RRBs)  and  the  Institute  of  Banking Personnel  Selection  (IBPS).  Based  on  the  screening  of  candidates  done  at  the  CET,  final selection shall be made through specialized tests/examinations to be conducted by the respective recruitment agencies. The score obtained by candidates in the CET may also be used by the State Governments,  the  public  sector  and  the  private  sector  in  their  recruitments,  based  on  a Memorandum of Understanding entered into with NRA. NRA is expected to conduct the first CET in 2021 itself.
3. NRA is an independent, professional and specialist agency registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 on 24.12.2020. The mandate of NRA is to conduct first level screening of candidates for recruitment to Group 'B' Non-Gazetted posts, Group 'B' Gazetted posts,  which  are  exempted  from  consultation  with  UPSC,  and  Group  'C'  posts  for  which recruitment is made by SSC, RRBs and IBPS.
4. NRA envisages to conduct  CET with  at  least  one  examination  centre  in  each  District, affording an opportunity to a candidate to appear in exam in his District/State.

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