TSPSC to chart new route

Interview with Ghanta Chakrapani

The first Chairman of TS State Public Service Commission Ghanta Chakrapani in a freewheeling chat with Yuvaraj Akula says that he has a big challenge ahead to fill one lakh posts

As the first chairman of the Telangana State Public Service Commission, what are the challenges ahead for you?
Filling one lakh jobs is a great challenge. To the best of my knowledge, no Public Service Commission had to fill so many vacancies in its first year. Besides the challenge, it gives an opportunity to prove our caliber and competence levels. Moreover, we have to address and cater to the needs of the youth of the State. Most students involved themselves in the statehood movement and are eagerly looking forward for employment opportunities. There is also a need to create an institution in the new State with credibility, honesty and transparency as the foundations.

When are you planning to release a job notification?
We will try to issue one notification by the end of January. Of course, the employment notification has to be decided by the government. Whatever posts the government approves, we will conduct recruitment.

Currently TSPSC is understaffed. Are you planning to write to government about additional intake of staff?
The commission requires about 200-300 staff members. Once the present staff is divided, we will know how much manpower would be required for efficient functioning. We will write to the authorities only making an assessment of the actual workforce requirement.

The syllabus for the APPSC examinations focused more on AP culture rather than on Telangana. Do you intend to revamp the curriculum?
We are planning to initiate academic cell with senior professors who have vast knowledge over the subjects. The aspirants need to have insights about Telangana State as they will serve for 30 long years. Failure to be suitably knowledgeable may go against the candidature.

Any plans to bring new examination pattern?
The examinations of TSPSC will be different from the APPSC tests. Eminent academicians, including former UPSC personnel, will be used to pool their opinions on the new structure.

APPSC has been taken to various courts on many a faux pas in the examination papers/key. How do you hope to avoid legal pitfalls?
Generally lack of transparency in the commission will drive aspirants to courts. When you have prefect planning system and very transparent way of administration and fool-proof system in place, there should be no such hassles.

Several students who have participated in the Telangana movement want age relaxation. Will you yield to such demands? If so, how?
It’s a policy decision which the government has to take. The commission will implement whatever the government decides.