Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt. Gen. K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) on Thursday, 18 June called on the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) to uphold merit-based recruitment as the sole criterion for candidate selection, stressing that transparency and accountability must define every stage of the examination and hiring process. The Governor's remarks came during a meeting with APPSC Chairman Prof. Pradip Lingfa at Raj Bhavan, Itanagar.

Key Directives from the Governor

During the meeting, Lt. Gen. Parnaik advised the Commission to conduct all examinations and selection processes with 'complete fairness, accountability, and openness,' ensuring that only the most deserving candidates are recommended for public service. He emphasised that merit must remain the non-negotiable foundation of the APPSC's functioning, so as to guarantee equal opportunity for every aspirant and reinforce public confidence in the institution.

The Governor also highlighted the APPSC's pivotal role in building an efficient administrative system for the state, urging it to sustain the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and excellence in all its operations.

Push for Technology and Digital Systems

Underlining the transformative potential of modern tools, Lt. Gen. Parnaik encouraged the Commission to adopt digital systems across examinations, evaluation, result processing, and grievance redressal. He observed that such technology-driven reforms could significantly enhance efficiency, tighten security, minimise human error, and make recruitment more accessible and reliable for candidates across the state.

Reforming Syllabi and Candidate Profiles

The Governor urged the APPSC to periodically review its recruitment patterns and examination syllabi to keep pace with the evolving demands of governance. He stressed the need to identify candidates who demonstrate not only academic competence but also critical thinking, ethical values, leadership qualities, adaptability, and a genuine commitment to public service — qualities he said would help build a future-ready civil service for Arunachal Pradesh.

Background: 2020 Controversies and Institutional Reforms

The Governor's directives come against the backdrop of significant institutional turbulence. Chief Minister Pema Khandu recently recalled the controversies and irregularities that surfaced within the Commission in 2020, noting that the state government had since initiated a series of major institutional reforms through extensive consultations with experts and stakeholders.

According to Chief Minister Khandu, these reforms have helped transform the APPSC into a stronger, more credible body capable of conducting transparent recruitment for Group A and Group B services, thereby restoring public confidence in the Commission's functioning. This comes amid broader national scrutiny of state public service commissions following high-profile examination irregularity cases in several states.

With both the Governor and Chief Minister now publicly reinforcing the APPSC's reform agenda, the Commission faces renewed pressure to demonstrate measurable improvements in its processes in the months ahead.