Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday, 25 May reaffirmed his government's commitment to merit-based, transparent recruitment as he presided over the distribution of 'Orders of Appointment' to 404 newly-selected Junior Engineers in Itanagar. The appointments follow the Junior Engineer Combined Recruitment Examination-2025 conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC).

Scale of the Recruitment Process

A total of 9,023 candidates appeared for the written examination. Of these, 1,236 cleared the written stage and qualified for interviews, with 404 ultimately selected. Chief Minister Khandu credited the outcome to the candidates' hard work and merit, as well as the support of their families and well-wishers.

Khandu praised the APPSC for conducting the examination in a transparent and time-bound manner, describing the Commission as a now-robust institution following a comprehensive overhaul initiated after irregularities surfaced in 2020.

Reforms After the 2020 Irregularities

Recalling that period, the Chief Minister said the government undertook a complete institutional restructuring of the APPSC — plugging loopholes through extensive consultations with experts and stakeholders. He stated that the Commission has since conducted credible recruitment for Group A and Group B services without controversy over the past several years.

Khandu also highlighted the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB), established in 2017, which handles recruitment for Group C posts and is designed to ensure equal opportunity regardless of influence or connections.

Where the Engineers Will Be Deployed

The 404 newly-appointed Junior Engineers will be posted across key infrastructure departments: the Public Works Department (PWD), Rural Works Department (RWD), Urban Development and Housing (UD&H), Public Health Engineering and Water Supply Department (PHE&WS), Hydro Power Development Department, and the Department of Power.

Khandu stressed that quality lapses in public works often stem from inadequate technical supervision, and that the fresh recruits would directly strengthen project monitoring. Initially, the engineers will be posted in planning and design wings under senior officers before being assigned field responsibilities. Professional training in collaboration with reputed institutions is also planned before field postings begin.

Hydropower Investments and Broader Context

The Chief Minister noted that Arunachal Pradesh is currently attracting investments of nearly ₹2 lakh crore in the hydropower sector, which he attributed to the vision and support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said such investments would gradually reshape the state's economic landscape and create fresh opportunities for its youth.

Khandu urged the newly-appointed engineers to work with dedication and sincerity under the spirit of 'Team Arunachal', calling honesty and transparency non-negotiable principles of his administration. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, ministers, MLAs, the Chief Secretary, and senior departmental officials were present at the ceremony.

With trained engineers now set to reinforce infrastructure departments, the government's next test will be whether the quality of public works delivery on the ground matches the reform credentials it has built on paper.