GUWAHATI, Oct 22 - A Government decision on language papers for the ensuing combined competitive examinations to be conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) has created confusion among the candidates and if the decision is implemented, the candidates of the Brahmaputra Valley of the State will have to face additional burden of a paper of 300 marks.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that the APSC published the advertisements for the combined competitive examinations on September 8 for recruitment for Assam Civil Service and allied services. However, there is confusion among the aspirants about a rule set by the State Government.
The State Government amended the APSC combined competitive examination rules and for the mains examinations, the candidates will have to appear in a 300 mark paper in one of the three native languages � Assamese, Bengali and Bodo. However, the candidates of Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj, who have not studied these languages while appearing in the High School Leaving Certificate Examinations have been exempted from appearing in the language paper.
Sources said that the Government�s decision was discriminatory for the students of the Brahmaputra Valley as they would have to face extra burden of appearing in an additional paper of 300 marks. The APSC was of the view that the students, who have been exempted from appearing in the State language paper should be asked to appear in another paper like Alternative English to provide a level playing field to all the candidates, but till date, Government has not clarified its position in this regard.
Sources said that in most of the State civil services examinations, appearing in a State language paper is mandatory. Giving some examples, sources said that the candidates appearing in such examination conducted by the Gujarat Public Service Commission, the candidates have to appear in a paper on Gujarati. Similarly, candidates appearing in Andhra Pradesh have to appear in a Telegu paper, those in Karnataka have to appear in a Kannada paper, candidates appearing in Maharashtra have to appear in a Marathi paper etc.
Meanwhile, sources said that after the change of the rules, the combined civil services examinations would be held in the pattern of the examinations held by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Sources pointed out that it is a positive step as the candidates can appear in both the examinations with same kind of preparation.
Moreover, another major change has been brought with the amendment of the rules as earlier candidates had to apply with hard copies of application forms and certificates and they had to submit the examination fees through treasury challans drawn in Assam. Now candidates can apply online and they do not have to visit the office of the APSC to submit applications.
