No final decision on higher viva marks

The government has not yet finalised a proposal to increase the marks allocated to viva voce examinations for direct recruitment to 11th to 20th-grade government posts, State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari said on Wednesday.

The minister said the government would not take any decision to favour anyone and that transparency and accountability would be ensured in the recruitment process.

The clarification came amid controversy over a proposed uniform examination system for direct recruitment to 11th to 20th-grade posts. Different ministries, departments and agencies currently follow different examination and mark-distribution systems.

A draft special regulation has been prepared to bring uniformity to the recruitment process. The draft, which was approved by the Administrative Development-related Secretary Committee on September 6, proposes increasing the weight of viva examinations for some grades. However, the regulation has not yet been finalised.

Under the proposed system, recruitment examinations for 11th and 12th-grade posts would carry 100 marks for the written test and 50 for the viva. For 13th to 16th-grade posts, the proposed distribution is 60 marks for the written test and 40 for the viva. For 17th to 20th-grade posts, both the written and viva examinations would carry 25 marks.

Speaking to Jago News on Wednesday morning, Bari said, “No final decision has yet been taken on increasing viva marks for third- and fourth-class recruitment.” He said discussions were underway to bring recruitment examinations conducted by different ministries and departments under a single system.

The proposed changes are intended to prevent proxy candidates and the misuse of artificial intelligence and electronic devices in examinations, according to the Public Administration Ministry. The ministry also said a uniform mark distribution would help select candidates on the basis of merit and qualifications.

Concerns have been raised, however, that increasing the weight of viva examinations could create greater scope for irregularities in recruitment, particularly because candidates who perform well in written examinations could potentially be disadvantaged at the viva stage.

Bari rejected such concerns, saying the government would not misuse the system and would ensure transparency and accountability. “There is nothing to be alarmed about,” he said, adding that any decision would apply equally to everyone.

sks