Language row in Karnataka that led to cancellation of Railways exam, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• South Western Railway (SWR) postponed a recruitment exam on March 17 due to protests by pro-Kannada groups.
• The protests were against the exam being conducted only in English and Hindi, excluding Kannada.
• The exam was for 194 Goods Train Manager posts and 101 posts under the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination.
• Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticized the department's delayed response and the imposition of Hindi.

Detailed Insights:

• The initial notification for the exam mentioned a three-language policy, but a later notification only included Hindi and English.
• The All India OBC Railway Employees Association raised concerns about the disadvantage faced by Kannada-speaking employees.
• Railway Board guidelines from 1992 mandate that all departmental exams should be conducted in Hindi, English, and the respective regional language.
• South Indian states have consistently advocated for a three-language policy in central government recruitments to promote local hiring.
• The SWR stated that regular exams follow the three-language policy, but promotion exams are conducted in Hindi and English due to being computer-based.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Three-Language Policy: The promotion of three languages, including Hindi, English, and regional languages, in education and administration.
• Official Language Policy: Government rules regarding the languages used for official purposes, aiming to balance national and regional linguistic needs.
• Recruitment Examination: A test conducted by an organization to assess candidates' suitability for employment or promotion.