Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday directed the Chief Secretary to examine the need for dedicated infrastructure for the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB), citing the growing recruitment workload and the need to strengthen its manpower and technical capacity.
Khandu issued the direction while inaugurating a newly added Conference Hall at the APSSB office premises. He described the creation of the Board as one of the most significant and far-reaching reforms undertaken by his government in public recruitment.
Speaking at the programme, the Chief Minister said APSSB was established to create a transparent and equitable recruitment mechanism for Group C and D posts, replacing the earlier system under which departments conducted recruitment independently.
He said decentralised recruitment could leave room for inconsistencies and concerns over fairness and external influence. The dedicated recruitment institution was intended to ensure an equal playing field for candidates, irrespective of their social or political background.
Recruitment reform institutionalised through legislation
Khandu said the reform was conceived after he assumed office in 2016 and was deliberately institutionalised through legislation rather than an executive or Cabinet order.
The Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board was established under the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board Act, 2018 (Act No. 14 of 2018).
“I still believe that the reform we brought into the recruitment system by creating the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board is historic in itself. Perhaps we do not realize its significance fully today, but in the years to come we will understand it much better,” he said.
The Chief Minister said APSSB had conducted 38 examinations since beginning its recruitment process in 2019 and recommended 5,836 candidates for appointment against various vacancies. Lakhs of candidates have participated in the recruitment process.
The 39th examination, the Common Higher Secondary Level Examination (CHSLE), 2026, is currently in progress.
He said APSSB had emerged as the principal recruitment channel for Group C and D posts, while recruitment to Group A and B posts is conducted through the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC).
Khandu also highlighted that APSSB is an ISO-certified organisation, reflecting the institutional standards established in its functioning.
Merit-based recruitment changing outlook among youth
Recalling the recruitment system before APSSB, Khandu said appointments to Group B and C posts were largely undertaken departmentally. He referred to his experience as a minister, when he had advocated routing recruitment for certain posts through the Public Service Commission to ensure greater transparency and merit.
He said the introduction of APSSB had created an impact beyond recruitment, as young people now understood that securing a government job required preparation, study and hard work.
The merit-based system, he said, had encouraged healthy competition among the youth and contributed to improved educational orientation and preparedness among aspiring candidates.
Khandu also referred to government efforts to strengthen pathways for Arunachali youth preparing for higher-level competitive examinations.
He said the government introduced a common preparation framework, including the CSET system, after consultations with experienced civil servants and an assessment of why Arunachali candidates were finding it difficult to transition from state-level to UPSC examinations.
He said the intervention had subsequently helped more Arunachali youth qualify for All India Services and Group A services through UPSC.
The Chief Minister said APSSB was also increasingly becoming a stepping stone for young government employees aspiring to higher services. Some candidates who entered government service through the Board subsequently competed for APPSC and other higher-level examinations, he noted.
Khandu appreciated the Board’s initiative to strengthen career progression for its recruits. He said the government had accepted its proposal to increase the weightage and duration of relevant experience, helping avoid repeated disruption in the recruitment cycle.
“The workforce that will come into the Arunachal government in the coming years will be a very strong workforce. The young people joining through the Staff Selection Board are brilliant, digitally equipped and part of a new generation,” he said.
CM seeks stronger APSSB infrastructure
Khandu stressed the need to strengthen APSSB’s infrastructure and manpower capacity in view of the increasing volume of recruitment.
He said several new posts were being created across departments, adding to the Board’s recruitment workload. He directed the Chief Secretary to immediately examine the requirement for new and dedicated infrastructure for APSSB, including the possibility of shifting the existing establishment if necessary.
He also called for adequate technical manpower and staff support, noting that APSSB was expected to undertake a substantial share of government recruitment in terms of the number of posts involved.
“There can be no compromise when it comes to the Public Service Commission and the Staff Selection Board. Strengthening these two institutions is the responsibility of the government,” he said.