Editor,
I wish to draw urgent attention to the prolonged and deeply concerning delay in the conduct of the horticulture development officer (HDO) examination, which has remained pending since the cancellation of Advertisement No PSC-R(B)/28/21 dated 04/10/2021.
The formation of the new Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) had rekindled hope among aspirants that the recruitment process would regain transparency and timeliness.
However, this hope has repeatedly been met with uncertainty, as only tentative timelines have been offered without any concrete follow-through. In the 2025 examination calendar, the HDO exam was tentatively scheduled for September. Aspirants structured their preparation with discipline and commitment, only for the year to pass without any notification. Now, in the 2026 calendar, the examination is tentatively slated for May, which is barely a month away, yet all that remains is a complete absence of official clarity.
However, it is important to note that the last HDO recruitment was conducted in 2018, and nearly nine years have since elapsed. This is not merely an administrative delay but a prolonged disruption of careers, aspirations, and livelihoods. Young, qualified individuals, ready to contribute to the state’s horticultural development, are instead trapped in a cycle of uncertainty and stagnation.
The consequences extend beyond individual hardship. At a time when agriculture and horticulture demand skilled professionals, such inaction represents a loss of valuable human resources and a setback to developmental progress.
Therefore, I earnestly urge the commission to act with urgency and responsibility by releasing the HDO advertisement without further delay. Aspirants deserve clarity, fairness, and respect for their time and effort. Let this not become another unfulfilled assurance.
A concerned
HDO aspirant