Inclusive cluster has two-thirds representation in civil service: Chair Regmi

KATHMANDU: The Public Service Commission (PSC) has been selecting competent human resources required for public service.

Qualification, impartiality and competition are prerequisites to enroll candidates for public/government services, to which PSC is the responsible body for taking exams and recommending right persons.

PSC is therefore regarded as a foundational pillar for good governance, inclusion and professional civil service.

The constitutional body is celebrating its 76th anniversary tomorrow, June 15 (Asar 1). In this connection, PSC chair Madhav Prasad Regmi shared his experience, and achievement of PSC with transparent, credible and modern approaches to make Nepal’s public administration further effective.

The following is the chair Regmi’s opinion prepared on the basis of an interview he gave to RSS correspondent, Bhishma Raj Ojha- The constitutions Nepal promulgated so far have incorporated PSC. It was established on Asar 1, 2008BS as per Interim Constitution, 2007BS. PSC is given responsibility for fulfilling the civil employees required for state affairs.

Current constitution has given a broader mandate to PSC, for it is now providing additional services- consultation and conduct of exam and result announcement- to fulfill the vacancies in as many as 74 organized institutions including four security bodies. It provided consultation to total 108 organized institutions’ regulations. We have PSC representatives at 107 institutions so far.

Following the adoption of federal system, there are provincial PSCs which fulfill vacancies in the respective provinces and local governments. PSC central office and its subordinates combined make up 14 offices across the country.

The complaints of insufficient employees at sub-national governments might have come because the Province PSCs are in the initial phase and perhaps for not pushing demand. For addressing the complaints and other challenges, the province and local levels can forward demands as per quota in a transparent manner.

Currently, there are some 150 thousand civil employees combined from three tiers of government. However, a report was furnished earlier for 32,000 quotas of employees at federal level, 22,000 at province and 45,000 at local level.

The regular fulfillment of vacancies at province might have been stalled also because of numerous employees taken in contract and on daily wage basis in addition to temporary ones.

PSC has made a stride in examination system with an online form fill out service, wiping out the hassles of standing in line and PSC recruitment management system in place. Adoption of digital and online system has ensured rapid change and convenience services.

However, the state institution should not hurry- without adequate preparation- to adopt full digital transformation for development. Lack of adequate preparation may sometime pose risk.

Over 26,000 employees have been selected through inclusive cluster. Similarly, additional cluster of inclusion has ensured entry of 11,000 others (from open competition). The inclusion represents country’s ethnic origin, class, region, geography. Although the inclusion provision was said to be revised in 10 years as per constitutional mandate, it is not revised so far.

The number of people applying for public service jobs is growing every year. PSC is at work to bring reform in the recruitment process.

However, similar standard adopted for candidates of different levels has created problem in maintaining uniformity in evaluation.

Last year, as many as 90,000 persons had filled out forms for pre-qualification test at fourth level, while 60,000 appeared the exams and 20,000 made through it.

PSC exams are conducted in various places through its 14 offices across the country. The public service recruitment body is for launching preliminary exams (pre-qualification test) even to the kharidar and nayab subba posts as done to the officer post.

PSC paragon of competence, impartially and fairness

PSC is a paragon body of competence, impartially and fairness. Reform is continuous at PSC. Even the curriculums are being updated to make exam system timely. In order for the employees to excel in service, they are being encouraged to take exam in the groups/services of related expertise.

The exams are held on ‘assessment centre methodology’.

However, PSC’s test of an individual is 10 percent which is called ‘iceberg model’. PSC has been fulfilling vacant posts based on universal test method and studies. Therefore, entire perspective of candidates can not be projected.

The irregularities of civil employees can be influenced based on their background, organizational culture and perspectives. So moral education is imperative at people’s families to discourage irregularities at service.

PSC strictly adheres to its annual exam calendar, but if any organized institution does not explicitly send the list of vacant posts, PSC is not aware of such issues. Once the government institutions request for fulfillment of posts then PSC forwards the process. However, the process lengthens in case of crisis, election time and pandemic.

I call the youths to join public service, proving themselves competent because it is the best career space and opportunity to serve nation. However, languishing with unrelenting abortive efforts for PSC exams is not wise option either. There are a lot of other options as well.