NEW DELHI, Dec 20: The Government of India has filled over four lakh backlog vacancies in government jobs reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC) candidates since 2016, the Parliament was informed. Minister of State for Personnel, Jitendra Singh, stated in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha that the occurrence and filling of vacancies, including those reserved for these categories, is an ongoing process.
Singh added that instructions had been issued to all ministries and departments of the central government to establish in-house committees for identifying backlog reserved vacancies. These committees are tasked with studying the root causes of such vacancies, initiating measures to eliminate factors leading to them, and filling them through special recruitment drives.
Each ministry or department is required to designate an officer of the rank of Deputy Secretary or above as a Liaison Officer to ensure compliance with the reservation orders and instructions. Additionally, a special reservation cell is to be set up to assist the Liaison Officer in this process.
In response to another question, Singh explained that the government had launched the ‘Initiative for Increasing Efficiency in Decision Making in Government,’ in alignment with the policy of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.’ This initiative focuses on delayering, delegation, digitization, and a desk officer system across ministries and departments. Directions were issued in November 2024 to ensure that the levels of disposal and submission in ministries do not exceed four.
Singh also highlighted the government’s Mission Karmayogi, which aims to enhance the skills, knowledge, and attitudes of government employees. The mission offers over 1,500 courses through its digital platform, IGOT Karmayogi, helping civil servants improve governance, policy implementation, and technology skills. The initiative promotes more efficient public service delivery and fosters efficiency, accountability, and transparency in the public sector.
