(a) whether the Government has issued any guidelines to all departments to provide relaxed
standards in direct recruitments to SC and ST candidates in respect of written examinations
and interview in order to fulfil the quota earmarked for them;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether similar guidelines have been issued to provide relaxed standards to OBC
candidates also; and
(d) if so, the details of relaxation extended to OBC candidates?
Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science and Technology; Minister of
State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences; Minister of State in the
Prime Minister’s Office; Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances
and Pensions; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
(SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN)
(a) (& (b) : The instructions provide that in case of direct recruitment, whether by
examination or otherwise, if sufficient number of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates
are not available on the basis of the general standard to fill all the vacancies reserved for
them, candidates belonging to these communities may be selected by relaxed standard to fill
up the remaining vacancies reserved for4854 them subject to their fitness for such post/posts.
(c) & (d) : Yes, Sir. The instructions provide that in order to fulfil the quota earmarked to
OBCs, relaxation of standards may be provided to OBC candidates as in the case of SC/ST
candidates.