Editor,
We would like to draw the attention of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) to a matter of serious concern regarding the Common Junior Engineer (JE) Recruitment Examination-2026.
A total of 66 posts under the rural works department (RWD) and the water resources department (WRD) are being filled through a common examination in which candidates from both civil engineering and agricultural engineering disciplines are competing. However, it has been widely observed among candidates that the question papers set for agricultural engineering were comparatively easier than those set for civil engineering.
Consequently, a significant number of agricultural engineering candidates are reportedly securing marks above 330, while civil engineering candidates are finding it extremely difficult to even reach 250 marks. Such a disparity in a common competitive examination undermines the principle of fairness and places one group of candidates at a clear disadvantage.
In national-level examinations conducted by agencies such as the UPSC and the SSC, moderation or normalisation methods are commonly adopted whenever candidates appear for different papers or optional subjects. These mechanisms are specifically designed to address variations in question paper difficulty and to ensure a level playing field for all candidates.
In this context, we earnestly appeal to the APPSC to consider adopting a suitable moderation or normalisation process for the JE Common Examination-2026. Doing so would help safeguard the principles of fairness, transparency, and merit that form the foundation of any credible recruitment process.
We sincerely hope that the commission will take this genuine concern into account and take appropriate measures in the interest of justice and equal opportunity for all aspirants.
Civil engineering candidates,
JE Common
Examination-2026