Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 24 July 2023
In a significant effort towards providing gainful employment opportunities to the eligible aspirants of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Administration successfully conducted the Common Higher Secondary Level Examination for filling up Group ‘C’ vacant posts in various departments. The examination, held on July 23, 2023, witnessed enthusiastic participation from candidates across the islands.
With the assistance of the Staff Selection Commission, New Delhi, the A&N Administration conducted the examination simultaneously at 56 designated centres, spread across 09 Tehsils of the islands. A total of 21,882 candidates had applied online for approximately 488 vacancies, out of which 18,584 candidates appeared for the examination, resulting in an encouraging overall attendance rate of 84.9%.
Despite numerous challenges, the A&N Administration left no stone unturned in ensuring a free, fair, and transparent examination process. To maintain the integrity and sanctity of the examination, the Administration roped in the expertise of several IAS, IPS, IFS, and DANICS officers, along with officials from local departments such as Education, APWD, Police, and Forest. In addition, Bharat Electronic Limited’s assistance was sought to install jammers at all examination centres to eliminate any possibility of electronic unfair means.
To further enhance transparency, CCTVs were installed in the control rooms of all 56 designated examination centres throughout the islands. The transportation of examination materials from the strong room to the examination centres was videographed, and dedicated videographers were engaged at each centre to prevent any malpractice.
The A&N Administration’s commitment to inclusivity was evident as they made special arrangements for eligible specially-abled candidates belonging to the Visually Handicapped (VH) and Cerebral Palsy (CP) categories. Every effort was made to accommodate them within the framework of rules, ensuring equal opportunities for all eligible candidates.
The A&N Administration has been consistently conducting recruitment examinations to fill vacancies under its jurisdiction. For this purpose, 44 examination centres were established in South Andaman District, while the remaining 12 centres were distributed between N&M Andaman District and Nicobar District.
Looking forward, the Administration is taking proactive measures to streamline the recruitment process further. Plans are underway to establish infrastructure for online examinations, aiming to conduct routine job assessments in an online mode, thereby minimizing delays in future recruitments.
With the successful completion of the Common Higher Secondary Level Examination, the A&N Administration remains steadfast in its commitment to provide employment opportunities to the talented and deserving youth of the islands, contributing to the overall growth and development of the region.