Okram Ibobi Singh

Imphal, Sept. 2: The Manipur government will give a cash incentive of Rs 1 lakh to candidates who clear the prelims of the combined civil services examinations conducted by the UPSC and also reimburse travel expenses of those appearing for the mains.

The Okram Ibobi Singh cabinet having taken the decision on August 23, the state administrative reforms department is preparing to issue a notification seeking applications for the incentive.

The scheme, named skill upgradation and capacity building, came after the Meghalaya government announced cash incentives to encourage youths in the state to compete in the all-India civil service examinations.

However, the cash incentive announced by the Ibobi Singh government is much higher than the one announced by the Meghalaya government.

Under the Meghalaya chief minister’s All India Service Exams Incentive, youths who pass the civil services (preliminary) examinations will get a cash reward of Rs 5,000.

The Meghalaya government will also reimburse course fee, upto Rs 20,000, paid to any recognised coaching institute in the country. If the candidate passes the civil services (main) examination, he will get an additional Rs 10,000.

“Our aim is to encourage our youths to opt for administrative services and excel in the all-India competitive examinations. The cash incentive is to help the candidates in preparing for the main examination by attending coaching classes outside,” government spokesperson and irrigation and flood control minister N. Biren Singh said.

An official source said bright students of the state usually take up medicine, engineering or technical courses, with only a few opting for civil services.

He said seven candidates — five Scheduled Tribes and two Meiteis — who cleared the civil services examination were now serving in Manipur in various capacities in state government departments.

“Few state candidates pass the civil services examination because very few try for the all-India competition. Our incentive seeks to lure good and bright students to the civil services,” the government spokesman said.

The Ibobi Singh government has also decided to reimburse the travel expenses in case the candidate passes the main examination, the official source said.

Once the notification is issued, all those who have cleared the preliminaries — the results of which were declared last month — can apply for the cash incentive.

The candidate will have to submit permanent residential certificate, roll number, examination centre and official intimation of passing the preliminary examination while applying for the incentive.