APPSC - Good Works, Lessons and What Next?

Dear Editor,

It has been a long time since I have penned down my thoughts through
your esteemed daily. I would like to express few of my observations on
the recently concluded Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Combined
Competitive Examination [APPSCCE] (Prelims) held on 29th July 2018.

Good Works:

Firstly, I would like to congratulate the APPSC on smooth and
successful conduct of most awaited examination of the aspirant
candidates along with their kiths and kins.
The administrative machinery was well mobilized to achieve the desired
goal. The security arrangement as well as proper training/briefings
imparted to the invigilators was encouraging for the candidates.
Question sealed in hard plastic cover unlike before is also worth
mentioning and commendable.
Most unique arrangement in the history of the APPSCCE was the one of
suspending the mobile internet services during the exam hours.

Lessons for APPSC:

However, soon after the exam, reports of anomalies in some of the
optional papers surfaced. The candidates of commerce and civil
engineering voiced their concerns over questions being set out of
syllabus and erroneous. The Geography candidates claimed more than 50%
questions had been copy pasted from single website leading to the
apprehensions that the questions might have been leaked indirectly.
It is apparent that the APPSC have lacked in rationalizing the
optional papers even after the last APPSCCE (Prelims) 2017 fiasco
which eventually led to its re-conduct.
In order to have balanced Paper, the APPSC could strictly direct the
question setters to adhere to the prescribed syllabus. A balanced
paper could very well be set by dividing the number of questions
within the topics prescribed in the syllabus while maintaining level
of toughness - easy, medium and hard among the equal number of
questions.
However, the biggest take away and lesson for the APPSC have to be 'Do
away with the optional papers' before the next fresh notification of
the APPSCCE and conduct exam in line with the UPSC pattern to provide
level playing field to all the aspiring candidates.

What now?

I personally feel the APPSC is right in declaring results of the
Prelims after duly addressing to the grievances and concerns of the
Commerce, Geography and Civil engineering candidates. Dilly-dallaying
and prolonging the examination has not done any good for anyone.
Similarly, the Mains examination should be conducted at the earliest
within October - November 2018 and thereafter, wrap up the Viva-Voce
and final results by February 2019 for the following reasons:
1. The Hon'ble Guwahati High Court has directed the State government
to conduct Panchayati Raj elections within December 2018.
2. The semester exams of the colleges/universities usually fall in the
month of December.
3. The DySP probationers in the final selection list may be able to
join basic training by February 2019.
4. Other unforeseen developments which may prolong the examination.

Therefore, I request the APPSC through your daily to incorporate the
suggestions jotted herein above. Prolonged and delayed examination
keeps an aspiring candidate in suspended animation wherein he/she is
'Na Ghar ka Na Ghat ka'. This Year, I have crossed 30 yrs of age
officially and I don't know when my mental stamina will diminish. And
like me, many others...

Yours,

A Qualified Candidate 

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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