- Order issued on eligibility of holders of Bachelor’s & technical degrees & their equivalents for recruitment in govt depts
- Move seeks to dispel confusion regarding recruitment in govt depts
By Our Correspondent
Lucknow: In an attempt to dispel confusion regarding qualification, its equivalent and eligibility for recruitments on different posts in government departments, the Uttar Pradesh Government headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued a detailed order providing complete clarity on the issue.
The government’s order clears the air on candidates with either a regular Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent qualification, along with candidates holding a technical Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent regarding their eligibility for technical positions.
It is worth mentioning that the Yogi government has been running a large-scale program to connect the youth of the state with employment. Over six lakh youths have been provided jobs in the last six years and lakhs have been linked to various other employment opportunities. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has personally handed over appointment letters to youths in 21 appointment letter distribution programs so far.
Concerned departments will determine the equivalent qualification for technical posts
In this regard, Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Additional Chief Secretary, has informed all the top officials of the state government, including Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Department Heads, Divisional Commissioners, and District Magistrates, about the government’s decision regarding Bachelor’s degree from a university established by law in India and its equivalent.
It is stated that in cases where technical positions are covered by the service regulations of a department and where a specific qualification or its equivalent qualification in a particular branch or sub-branch has been prescribed in the eligibility criteria instead of a regular Bachelor’s degree, the determination of equivalence with the prescribed qualification will be done by the respective or concerned department.
Necessary steps to ensure the process for determining general eligibility
Except for cases where the eligibility criteria in the regulations of any department have specified a regular Bachelor’s degree (general graduate) and its equivalent qualification, the orders ensure that all such degrees will be recognized as equivalent to a regular Bachelor’s degree if they have been conferred by a university, deemed university, or institution established by law through legislation by the Central or any State Government.
Furthermore, the degrees provided at the undergraduate level in various technical courses operated by recognized professional bodies and institutions, accredited by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (Education Ministry), Government of India, will be considered equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (Education Ministry) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) as per the issued guidelines.
However, in case of any ambiguity, information can be sought from the central government, relevant state governments, or regulatory bodies. This equivalence will be applicable only in the state of Uttar Pradesh for services governed by the Public Service Commission, Subordinate Service Commissions, and other recruiting agencies, as specified in the service regulations for a Bachelor’s degree and its equivalent qualification.
Recruitment can now take place without delay on vacant positions
As per the order of the High Court, Allahabad, on September 17, 2021, wherever the qualifications mentioned in the recruitment rules include equivalent qualifications, the equivalent eligibility should be clearly determined before commencing the selection process. Only after this determination, the selection authorities can proceed with the recruitment process.
Selection authorities, such as the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission, Lucknow, and various boards, have been instructed to ensure clear mention of the equivalent eligibility in the advertisements before advertising the positions.
After implementing the provisions of this order of the High Court, it has been informed by some departments that the requisitions sent on the basis of equivalent qualification prescribed in the rules are being returned by the Public Service Commission with a request to clarify the equivalent qualification. This has caused delays in initiating the recruitment process for vacant positions.
