In order to reform the recruitment process for central and government jobs, a National Recruitment Agency has been set up to transform the recruitment process for various government jobs.

Every year, lakhs of candidates appear for different examinations conducted by separate recruiting agencies for various posts. Different criterias for selection also apply to cut short the list.

A multi-agency based body has been set up and the National Recruitment Agency (NRA) will conduct a Common Eligibility Test (CET) to screen/shortlist candidates for the Group B and C (non-technical) posts. The NRA will have representatives. Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Finance/Department of Financial Services, the SSC, RRB & IBPS. It is envisioned that the NRA would be a specialist body bringing the state-of-the-art technology and best practices to the field of Central Government recruitment.

Examinations Centres would be easily accessible to all candidates. Infrastructure in 117 Aspirational Districts would be improved. Especially rural areas will be looked upon, the process would be made cost effective. Apart from the examination fees, candidates have to incur additional expenses for travel, boarding, lodging and other such. A single examination would reduce the financial burden on candidates to a large extent.

Women candidates who were dependent on others for transportation will also be benefited if centres will be closer. Rural area candidates will get to compete for multiple posts by appearing for only one examination. The CET score of the candidate shall be valid for a period of three years from the date of declaration of the result. There shall be no restriction on the number of attempts to be taken by a candidate to appear in the CET subject to the upper age limit.

NRA shall conduct a separate CET each for the three levels of graduate, higher secondary (12th pass) and the matriculate (10th pass) candidates for those non-technical posts. The CET would be available in a number of languages.

 The Government has sanctioned a sum of Rs. 1517.57 crore for the National Recruitment Agency (NRA). The expenditure will be undertaken over a period of three years. Apart from setting up the NRA, costs will be incurred for setting up examination infrastructure in the 117 Aspirational Districts.

The National Recruitment Agency will conduct the Tier-1 examination for these three agencies online. Examination centres will be set up in each district, with the Centre committing to invest in the necessary infrastructure for 117 aspirational districts.