Editor,
I would like to bring to the attention of the public and the authorities concerned the irresponsible and negligent attitude of the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB), especially its chairman and secretary, in connection with the Combined Secondary Examination 2025.
According to the official notification, candidates belonging to the Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) category are entitled to five years of relaxation in the upper age limit for the post of multi-tasking staff (MTS). This clearly implies that an APST candidate up to the age of 40 years should be eligible to apply for the said examination. However, the official APSSB website reflects contradictory eligibility criteria, whereby even candidates who are only 36 years of age are being shown as ineligible to apply.
This glaring inconsistency between the stated notification and the actual implementation is not only unjust but also raises serious questions about the efficiency and accountability of the board.
Such discrepancies create confusion, frustration, and unnecessary hardship for genuine aspirants who have been preparing for years with the hope of securing employment through fair competitive examinations. For many, this opportunity is a lifeline, and depriving them due to administrative negligence is deeply unfair.
The very purpose of granting age relaxation to APST candidates was to ensure inclusivity and equal opportunities, keeping in mind the unique challenges faced by the indigenous population of Arunachal Pradesh. By denying this rightful provision, the APSSB is directly undermining the trust of the youths in the system.
It is disheartening that an institution entrusted with the responsibility of providing transparent and fair recruitment is itself becoming a source of irregularities. Such irresponsible conduct not only damages the credibility of the APSSB but also risks the future of countless deserving candidates. In a state like Arunachal, where employment opportunities are already limited, the negligence of the recruitment board further deepens the sense of deprivation and helplessness among educated unemployed youths.
I earnestly appeal to the Arunachal Students’ Union, various student organizations, civil society groups, and all stakeholders concerned to take cognizance of this matter and raise a collective voice against such irregularities. Constructive pressure from the public is necessary to ensure that the APSSB rectifies its errors and upholds the principles of fairness, justice, and accountability.
The APSSB must remember that it is a public body accountable to the people of Arunachal. It cannot afford to act arbitrarily and play with the future of the aspirants. Immediate corrective measures, including clarification of the eligibility criteria and rectification of the age-related discrepancies, must be undertaken without delay.
A deprived candidate