A propose to the news item captioned “NVCO Appeal to NPSC to Reduce Form Charges” appearing in local medias dated 31st July, 2012 and the subsequent “Clarification to NPSC Exam Form’ carried in a certain local media on 1st August, 2012 issue, the NPSC is compelled to issue this rejoinder to clarify the matter to the public in general and the aspiring candidates in particular.
Whereas the Nagaland Voluntary Consumer’s Organisation (NVCO) has alleged that the NPSC is charging “exorbitant amount for a form containing three pages adding it was nothing but day light robbery.” While freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right of every citizen in our country, the freedom comes with corresponding responsibility. The NPSC regrets to note that a responsible organisation like the NVCO accusing NPSC with demeaning and derogatory terms such as “day light robbery” without first ascertaining the facts from the Commission exposes the hollowness of the organisation.
The NPSC is to clarify that application forms are free which contains the application format along with the syllabus of both preliminary and main written examinations and is being issued from all the district headquarters of the state for the first time in the history of the Commission. This is being done in order to help aspiring candidates, especially, those who are from other districts other than the capital, Kohima. The NPSC expresses its profound gratitude to the State Government and all the District Administrations for its support in the Commission’s endeavour to lighten the burden of the aspiring candidates.
Every prudent person will be aware that conducting public examinations, be it Board, University or Recruitment Examinations incurres expenditure and therefore, an examination fee has to be collected from all the candidates. In like manner, the various recruitment examinations conducted by NPSC involves expenditure and therefore, the Commission is charging an examination fee of Rs 300/- (Rupees three hundred) from each candidate submitting his/her application. The Commission is to state that for any kind of examination conducted by it, the Commission is incurring an expenditure of Rs. 700/- to Rs.1000/- for each candidate till the interview stage which involves 3 (three) stages, ie, Preliminary, Main and Interview. The major head of expenditures involved in conducting examination by the Commission are as follows;
1. Setting of Question Papers by subject experts and evaluation of answer scripts, generation of written examination results for both preliminary as well as main examination. This task is outsourced to some professional companies based outside the State.
2. Conduct of examinations which involves centres and invigilators. For the ensuing NCS, NPS, NSS & Allied Services Examination (2012) arrangements are being made to conduct the examination at 18 (eighteen) centres at Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung.
3. Interview - Conducting viva voce involves subject experts and at times have to be brought from outside the state when experts are not available within the State.
4. Logistic backups & Miscellaneous expenditure involving transportation of sensitive materials, advertisements, security, providing various facilities to candidates such as free application forms, syllabus, sanitation, and other unforeseen expenditures.
While the Commission is aware of its limitations, it always welcome constructive suggestions as well as criticism. However, it once again APPEAL to one and all to firstly ascertain facts from the Commission before issuing statements for public consumption, as irresponsible statements and allegations are detrimental to the interest of the aspiring candidates.
Sarah R Ritse
Nagaland Public Service
Commission, Kohima
