BENGALURU: Despite growing calls to postpone the police sub-inspector recruitment exam for 402 vacant posts, scheduled for Sept 22, the state govt on Monday ruled out any change to the schedule. The govt clarified that the exam date was set months in advance, making a postponement unfeasible at this stage.
The demand for postponement follows a scheduling clash with two major national exams: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Mains, and the Staff Selection Commission's (SSC) CGL Tier 1 prelims.
Both these exams are also set for Sept 22. "KEA, responsible for conducting the
PSI
exam, has made all preparations. Postponing it at this juncture is not possible," home minister
G Parameshwara
told TOI.
Postpone exam by a week to avoid UPSC clash: Candidates
He, however, assured that the govt would soon invite applications for another 600 PSI posts, offering candidates one more opportunity next year. "We know about 60 candidates who have applied for both exams [PSI as well as either UPSC or SSC]. Now that they are scheduled on the same day, these candidates are in a dilemma. We are requesting the govt to delay the PSI exam by at least a week," said one PSI aspirant.
A candidate expressed frustration, saying the state govt was aware of UPSC exam date in advance. "UPSC announces its exam calendar well in advance. State govts should schedule their exams accordingly," he said.
Responding to this, Parameshwara claimed the Karnataka Examinations Authority had fixed the PSI exam date before UPSC released its schedule. He further reasoned: "The home department is in urgent need of sub-inspectors, as recruitment for these positions has not taken place in the last five-six years," Parameshwara said.
Opposition BJP also urged the govt to postpone the PSI exam after some of the affected candidates wrote to state unit chief Vijayendra, seeking his intervention and demanding postponement of the PSI exam. Vijayendra said: "The govt's decision to hold PSI examination on the same day when UPSC mains exam is being conducted demonstrates the former's anti-candidate mentality. The govt must postpone the PSI exam at least by a month."
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