Govt set to introduce waiting list for grades 10-12 job recruitment

In a bid to make government job recruitment more efficient, the authorities are set to introduce a mandatory waiting list for appointments to jobs in grades 10 to 12, aiming to reduce delays, lower administrative costs, and ensure timely filling of vacancies.

According to officials at the public administration ministry, each recruitment process will include a waiting list of two candidates for every available position. If a selected candidate from the main list declines the offer or leaves the job shortly after joining, the position will be filled from the waiting list. The list will remain valid for one year.

The ministry's rules division has already drafted a circular, outlining the new policy, and has sent it to the chief adviser for approval. Once cleared, the directive will be officially issued, making the system compulsory for all relevant government entities – including ministries, departments, directorates, autonomous and statutory bodies, and state-owned corporations.

This reform follows a previous circular issued on 17 April 2023, which introduced waiting lists for recruitment in grades 13 to 20. With the new directive, waiting lists will be required for all government recruitment from grades 10 through 20.

Officials say the waiting list system will prevent long-term vacancies in government offices and reduce the burden on job seekers who often have to reapply multiple times due to withdrawn candidates or stalled recruitment.

Currently, government departments must obtain prior approval before initiating recruitment – a process that can take months. The new system is expected to significantly reduce these delays.

Recruitment process

A senior ministry official told The Business Standard that once a position opens up, the recruitment committee will contact the top candidate on the waiting list by phone, followed by a formal letter via registered mail. If the candidate does not respond within 10 working days, the next person on the merit list will be approached.

Selections from the waiting list will follow the same merit-based process as the main recruitment. Candidates will be notified through departmental notice boards, official websites, and SMS alerts.

Those hired from the waiting list will be placed after the main list appointees in terms of seniority. If multiple candidates join on the same day, their seniority will be determined by exam performance.

If candidates have the same score, the older one will get priority; if their age is also the same, the one who finished their education earlier will be preferred.

Recruitment from the waiting list will be limited to the positions for which the original job circular was published. Recommendations will follow the existing quota system. The names and roll numbers of the waiting list candidates will be sealed in envelopes signed by recruitment committee members and kept confidential.

The waiting list will remain valid for one year from the date of recommendation or until the next job circular for the same post is issued – whichever comes first.