Why govt jobs are few: The narrow selection pipeline, Pg19

Key Highlights:

• The dream of a sarkari naukri (government job) attracts crores of applicants annually for a limited number of vacancies in India.
• The Union government employed 30.62 lakh permanent staff as of March 1, 2023, against a sanctioned strength of over 40 lakh.
• Central government recruitments are primarily conducted by agencies like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), and the Ministry of Railways.
• Annually, only about 1.20 lakh candidates secure central government jobs, despite crores applying.
• The Railways is the largest central government employer, with over 12 lakh employees.

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Detailed Insights:

• The strong appeal of government jobs stems from economic realities, lack of private sector opportunities, social psychology, and career benefits.
• The Department of Expenditure data indicates the Union government spent ₹2.95 lakh crore on employee salaries in 2023-24.
• Over 80% of the central government's salary expenditure is allocated to defence, railways, postal services, and home affairs.
• The UPSC primarily recruits Group A and Group B civil servants, including for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).
• In 2022-23, 25.70 lakh candidates appeared for 22 UPSC examinations, with only 7,999 recommended for appointment.
• The SSC recruits for most non-gazetted Group B and non-technical Group C positions across various central government ministries and departments.
• In 2024-25, 2.05 crore candidates appeared for 20 SSC examinations, with a significant number applying for Multi-Tasking Staff (Non-Technical) and Havaldar posts.
• State governments have their own recruitment systems, including State Public Service Commissions for Group A and Group B officials like the Provincial Civil Service (PCS).
• All-India Services like IAS, IPS, and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) have a center-state nature, with recruits allotted to state cadres.
• Challenges like paper leaks in recruitment exams, particularly for Group C posts, highlight the intense competition and demand for government jobs.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Sarkari Naukri: A Hindi term referring to government jobs, highly sought after in India for security and benefits.
• Union Public Service Commission (UPSC): India's premier central recruiting agency for Group A and Group B civil services.
• Staff Selection Commission (SSC): A central government body responsible for recruiting Group B (non-gazetted) and Group C (non-technical) staff.
• Group A, B, C Jobs: Categories of government employment based on hierarchy, responsibilities, and pay scales.
• All-India Services: Central services like IAS, IPS, and IFoS whose officers are recruited by the Centre but serve in state cadres.