MPSC is going ahead of UPSC

Free Thinker *

The Manipur Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination Rules, 2022, shall be a new beginning because it has done away with the optional subjects (2 papers) in the Mains before the UPSC has done it After Prelims and Mains finally the candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record ofhis/ her career.

He/she will be asked questions on matters of general interest like lifting prohibition, the war against drugs, finishing corruption, 'go to the villages', school fagathansi' unsuccessful bandhs and blockades in the last 6 years, and so on. Most probably the interview will carry more marks.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is preparing a new recruitment scheme for the All India Civil Services including IAS and IPS. A new recruitment system is likely to be announced in 2023. In the new scheme of examination — the optional paper (subjects) for Mains will be done away with. As of now, there are 25 subjects from which a candidate has to opt for one that is compulsory.

In the new scheme of examination, there will be prelims, as usual, consisting of 2 papers; objective type questions, Paper 1 and 2 - both general studies. For Mains — one Essay paper and four General Studies papers will be there; one English qualifying paper is also there; in addition one language qualifying paper for those who are to take. Finally, the interview or the personality test shall take place.

What is exciting is that the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) is moving ahead with the new scheme of recruitment examination which is perhaps in tune with the proposed new pattern of examination of UPSC.

The notification to this effect was issued on 14 Nov 2022 by the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms, Government of Manipur. Then the State government published the same notification in the "Extraordinary" Manipur Gazette on 22 November 2022. That means this new scheme of examination to recruit State Civil servants and Police is made effective from 22 Nov itself.

When the next recruitment takes place in the State it will be held under this new pattern. All the MCS, MPS, MFS, SDC, SO, and Election officers shall be recruited under this new system of the recruitment examination. According to an unreliable source, there are about 280 vacancies. And the recruitment exam will take place very shortly.

If I remember correctly one recruitment exam was about to be conducted in 2019 - all formalities were ready. But was it put on hold at the last moment? It was perhaps put on hold as the Hon. court made a verdict to re-conduct the preceding recruitment exam. I am not very sure but it is very sure that soon one MCS/MPS recruitment exam will be conducted. Whether that will be of 2019 vintage or not — we are not sure.

However, the vacancies in the State administration and police are increasing day by day due to the non-recruitment of new officers at the entry-level. I strongly believe that the State leadership and the MPSC Chairman are on the same page and they want to conduct the Civil Services examination at the earliest and fill all the existing vacancies.

I was told that the incumbent chairman and some officials of the MPSC are actively in touch with the UPSC ; and they also had visited the Dholpur House, Shah Jahan Road, for consultation. The new scheme of examination and recruitment rule adopted by the Manipur State Government invoking Article 309 of the Constitution, is a welcome step.

The new pattern of the Civil Services Examination of the MPSC is really an outcome of such interactions. The old syllabus will continue for the time being. There will be some changes in the syllabus in the near future. Major changes will take place in the paper pertaining to Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography.

Another paper you may see a change will be the paper on Ethics and Integrity. In the new scheme interview or personality tests will be given prime importance. Certainly, the personality test will carry more marks. It is yet to be announced but is most likely to happen. Our State Service has a national perspective.

Any citizen of the country may apply who has a degree certificate and who is between the age of 21 and 38 (relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/ etc. shall be there). However, this national appeal is slightly restricted by two conditions.

A candidate should be able to speak Manipuri or any Tribal dialect of the State (a successful candidate can learn the language fast- nothing to worry about).

Second, a candidate must be a permanent resident of Manipur or a candidate whose parent or any of his/her ancestors has a direct lineage as a permanent resident of the State, with proper documentary proof like enrolment in the electoral roll or birth certificate, etc.

Nobody reads the instruction carefully; a candidate may be debarred for writing or drawing obscene matter in the answer script. Offering illegal gratification, fabrication of documents, influencing staff, tempering marks, replacing answer scripts, bribine the Members. etc, are normally not allowed.