As a new body established by the Government of India in response to a proposal by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPGP), the National Recruitment Agency (NRA) hopes to eliminate the need for separate preliminary exams for the different Group B and C positions in various agencies such as SSC, RRB, and IBPS, through a Common Eligibility Test (CET).
About NRA CET
The NRA CET is a new exam that will replace the Tier-1 exam conducted by government departments such as the SSC, RRB, and IBPS. So, with the introduction of the NRA CET, three such important exams will come under one roof. However, the respective recruitment agencies will carry out the subsequent stages in the selection process, including the Tier-2 and Tier-3 exams.
NRA CET is a national-level online exam held twice a year in which there would be separate exams for the three categories of Class 10, Class 12, and graduation.
The scores are valid for three years, and the exam allows aspirants to apply and compete for different posts altogether.
NRA CET Exam Date
NRA can use the newly introduced CET exam to screen the best candidates. They would be assuming the responsibilities of the different positions in the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS).
The agency will announce the deadlines for applying and downloading the admit card soon.
Though the agency hasn’t revealed the exact date, NRA may conduct the CET exam in early 2022.
Eligibility
The online application entails several steps, including registration, uploading supporting documents, providing the required information, and paying the fee for processing the application.
Only Indian citizens who have completed at least Class 10 or 12 are eligible to apply for NRA CET 2022. Also, those candidates who have completed Class 10 must be between 18 and 23 years of age to write this exam. Similarly, candidates who have completed Class 12 must be between 20 and 25 years old, and graduates must be between 20 and 32 years old.
Recruitment Process
The NRA follows a standard recruitment procedure that involves the following steps:
1. Application
Candidates must first apply for the NRA CET exam by visiting the official website, uploading the documents, providing the necessary details, and paying the required fee. They may also choose the examination centre and schedule.
2. Admit Card
NRA will upload the admit cards for the CET exam on its official website. So, after applying, candidates must download their admit cards by visiting the same portal before the exams commence.
3. The Exam
Once applicants download their respective admit cards, they must appear for the computer-based exam on the specified date, time, and venue.
4. Results
The National Recruitment Agency will announce the results on its official portal, and candidates can check their scores to see if they have made it into the merit list.
5. Next Steps
After the exam, the NRA will notify shortlisted candidates of the subsequent steps in the selection process.
Final Thoughts
The Government introduced the idea of NRA CET – a single exam for recruiting personnel for the different departments by considering the prevailing competition and other factors such as time and money.
There are only three recruitment agencies under the NRA CET for now. However, the Government plans to add more in the coming days. Also, candidates can write this exam in 12 different languages and their respective states, as there is a proposal to establish centres across the country.
