Guwahati, Nov. 1: Aspiring bureaucrats and college teachers are in a fix as the countrywide National Eligibility Test (NET) and Combined Competitive Examination 2013 (CCE) conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) fall on the same day (December 29).

The APSC today said it would not reschedule its examination. “We are not in a position to postpone the examination now,” Rakesh Paul, chairman of the commission, told The Telegraph.

Paul said the commission initially planned to hold the examination in the first week of December but postponed it considering difficulties of different sections.

“We cannot keep on postponing the examination. Besides, holding the examination in January and February will be impossible, as it will be examination time in schools and colleges. We use them as examination venues because of the large number of applicants,” Paul said.

“After much difficulty and almost after three years, we are going to hold the examination. The NET is held twice a year, the next being in June. Now it is up to the preference the candidates,” said Paul.

Paul said over 70,000 candidates applied for CCE this year, including 4,000 from outside Assam. Recently, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) demonstrated in front of the APSC office alleging that the online form submission process, which was launched by the commission this year, would help students from outside Assam apply for the examination. AASU’s demand was to reserve 100 per cent posts for local youths.

Paul said application forms of around 2,000 of the 4,000 candidates who applied from outside Assam have been cancelled for not having paid examination fees.

“We are taking AASU’s demand very seriously. We are trying to find out a mechanism to make the system more helpful for local students,” Paul said. A section has been saying that inclusion of a compulsory paper on regional language would give an edge to local candidates over outside candidates. Paul said introducing a paper on regional language would be complicated in a multilingual state like Assam. “If we introduce one language, other language-speaking communities may object,” said Paul.

Paul said the commission would change the pattern of its preliminary examination from next year. The compulsory paper in the preliminary examination will be replaced by a general knowledge paper that will concentrate on Assam. “Sixty to seventy per cent of the questions in the paper will be asked about Assam to test the candidates knowledge on the state,” said Paul.

AASU is determined to ensure that the APSC select all candidates from Assam as they would be involved in administrative matters of Assam only. “We demanded the APSC sit with us to discuss the issue, which will be soon,” said AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharjya.

General secretary of Assam College Teachers’ Association Biswajit Bhuyan said no less than 1,000 students from Assam appear for NET every year. “The APSC should change the date considering the convenience of the students,” said Bhuyan.

employment chance

Over 70000 candidates have applied for the APSC exam this year l 4000 have applied
from outside Assam

Exam to be held at 200 centres across Assam, including 70 in Guwahati

Exam to fill up 241 posts in Assam Civil Service, Assam Police Service and eight other services

From this year, APSC will conduct the exam every year. The current exam is being held after three years

Over 1000 aspirants from the state to appear in the National Eligibility Test