Latest news with #KeralaPublicServiceCommission
The Hindu
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC directs govt. to file affidavit on vacancies in FSLs
The Kerala High Court has directed the State government to submit an affidavit regarding the filling of vacancies in forensic science laboratories (FSL). Regarding a joint meeting of the stakeholders concerned, the court said the meeting ought to consider whether any delay in getting reports had led to 529 cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act pending before trial courts. Noting that the government and the Kerala Public Service Commission had not placed on record details regarding vacancies in the FSLs, the court directed the government to file the affidavit. A Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice C. Jayachandran issued the directive while hearing petitions seeking effective steps to end the drug menace in the State. The court stressed the need for initiatives like formation of school protection groups mulled over a decade ago, which had as members the head of the institution, president of the PTA, the Station House Officer concerned, counsellor, school leader, and parents. The court was informed that such groups had been formed in 300 schools in Kochi.
India.com
11-07-2025
- General
- India.com
Meet IAS Officer Sreenath K: Worked As Railway Coolie, Studied Using Free Wifi To Clear UPSC Exam Without Coaching; His Self-Study Success Mantra Is...
photoDetails english The UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of India's most competitive exams, conducted annually to recruit officers for prestigious roles like IAS, IPS, and IFS. It includes three stages—Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Over 10 lakh aspirants apply each year, aiming to serve the nation through administrative leadership roles. Updated:Jul 11, 2025, 04:17 PM IST UPSC preparation 1 / 7 Some aspirants face extreme financial challenges and can't even afford basic study materials for UPSC preparation. A truly inspiring example is IAS officer Sreenath K from Kerala. Once a railway porter, he used free Wi-Fi at the station to study on his mobile phone, turning his hardships into motivation and success. Ernakulam railway station 2 / 7 Hailing from Munnar in Kerala, Sreenath K grew up in a financially challenged household. To support his family, he worked as a porter at Ernakulam railway station, earning just Rs 400–500 a day—an amount that barely met their basic needs. Financial hardships 3 / 7 Despite facing severe financial hardships, Sreenath remained determined to achieve his dream of becoming an IAS officer. With no money to buy the recommended UPSC study materials, he still didn't lose hope. Instead, he found a creative way to overcome the odds and turn his challenges into an opportunity. Online resources 4 / 7 Sreenath spent his days working hard to earn a living, and dedicated his nights to studying. He made use of free online resources like YouTube videos, mock tests, and study material available on the internet to prepare for the UPSC exam. UPSC Civil Services Examination 2018 5 / 7 Sreenath K's dedication and relentless effort paid off when he successfully cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2018. According to media reports, he scored an impressive 82% in the written exam. Although his exact All-India Rank (AIR) remains undisclosed, he secured a notable position, earning him a place in the esteemed IAS cadre. Kerala Public Service Commission 6 / 7 In 2018, Sreenath received praise from Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, for his remarkable achievement. His inspiring journey was also highlighted by Google India. Initially, he appeared for the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) exams and secured a good rank. However, his ultimate goal was to become an IAS officer, so he continued his preparation for the UPSC Civil Services Examination with unwavering determination. Determination of becoming IAS officer 7 / 7 Despite the challenges, Sreenath remained determined to change his life. On his fourth attempt, he secured a good rank and achieved his dream of becoming an IAS officer. His remarkable journey serves as a powerful inspiration for many government job aspirants who face financial hardships.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala govt redesignates Dafedars as office attendants in Public Service Commission
Thiruvananthapuram: The state govt decided to turn a new page in its administrative history by redesignating all Dafedar posts in the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) as office attendant roles. This move may signal the beginning of the end for a colonial-era post that once stood for power, presence and protocol in govt offices. The term Dafedar dates back to the British Raj. In the colonial military, a Dafedar held the rank of sergeant in the cavalry. The civil administration borrowed the nomenclature — and some of its flair — to assign the title to senior attendants, often stationed outside the chambers of district collectors and other top officials. Wearing a distinctive white uniform, waistband and a cross-belt, the Dafedar wasn't just a messenger. He was a symbol of authority, access and colonial ceremony. In modern-day Kerala, the public has come to associate the Dafedar with a unique figure — the ever-watchful man at the door of the collector's chamber, who often seemed more formidable than the collector. Ushering in the important and stopping the lesser mortals, he embodied a legacy that outlived its original purpose but not its ritual. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What to Know Before Buying Health Insurance in 2025 Search7 Learn More Undo "Dafedars have long symbolised power and authority in the collectorates — they're often the first face of the administration that the public encounters," said an IAS officer who served until recently as a district collector in the state. "But over the years, there were frequent complaints from citizens about rude or dismissive behaviour. It's possible that the colonial hangover of the uniform and the gatekeeping role made some of them behave like they were part of a bygone order," he added. Now, that legacy is showing cracks. The state cabinet approved the redesignation of 21 existing Dafedar posts in the Kerala PSC as office attendants. Of these, only eight were filled through promotion from the office attendant cadre. The remaining 13 were being handled through temporary working arrangements, as office attendants were reluctant to accept a promotion to Dafedar since the post had no further promotional prospects. This stagnation turned a once-prestigious post into a bottleneck. In the post-colonial era, where public servants are no longer content to remain where they start and look upward, expecting the system to give them a path to grow, the PSC secretary's proposal to redesignate the posts received the backing of employee organisations and was vetted by the personnel and administrative reforms department. The finance department, too, gave its approval, noting that the move will not lead to any additional financial burden. Those currently serving as Dafedars in the PSC will retain their existing pay scale of Rs 17,000 – Rs 37,500, along with the seniority they would have as office attendants. All transitions will be carried out with consent and clarity to ensure fairness. Importantly, this decision applies only to the KPSC at present. The more publicly visible Dafedars — those posted outside district collector offices in their signature attire — remain in place for now. But with this formal step by the PSC, even those longstanding symbols of colonial order may quietly fade soon. As Kerala rethinks the roles and designations inherited from its imperial past, the Dafedar — once the uniformed guardian of bureaucratic sanctity — finds himself at the crossroads of change. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kerala government extends temporary data entry operators in lottery department for eighth time since 2018
1 2 3 T'puram: In a glaring example of the state's persistent reliance on discretionary hiring, the state govt has once again extended the tenure of 25 temporary data entry operators in the lottery department, marking the eighth such extension since 2018. A govt order issued on May 27 has now extended their appointment till June 2026, citing increased workload due to higher ticket sales and prize claims. What began as a stop-gap arrangement seven years ago, first approved via an order on June 7, 2018, has morphed into a seemingly permanent fixture. Over the years, even as the number of temporary posts has fluctuated (reduced from 28 to 25), the core practice has remained unchanged: Retaining daily-wage staff on an annual renewal basis without competitive recruitment. The justification provided is tied to the department's increased operational demands: Rising ticket sales, expanded prize structures and the need for efficient processing. On paper, the logic appears practical — maintaining continuity and handling growing data loads. But in administrative terms, the repetitive extension of temporary appointments without a clear recruitment plan is a significant deviation from the legal and ethical standards set for public employment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en General Rodríguez (ver precio) Verisure Undo The govt order goes a step further by stating that these posts are "very much needed" due to the department's heavy workload. If that is indeed the case, the logical course of action should have been to create sanctioned posts and notify them through the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC). That would have ensured transparency, fair opportunity and constitutional compliance. If budgetary constraints prevent the creation of new posts, there exists an alternative that the govt itself has acknowledged in several internal reviews: Redeployment of surplus staff from other departments. Numerous reports and recommendations by the personnel and administrative reforms department as well as expert committees appointed by the govt, have pointed out the presence of excess and often redundant posts in various departments. A judicious redeployment of this workforce could not only help bridge resource gaps like those in the lottery department but also optimise public spending in a period of fiscal stress. Yet, these recommendations remain largely on paper, while stop-gap hiring practices continue on the ground. Under the Compulsory Notification of Vacancies Act, 1959, all appointments outside the Public Service Commission are required to be routed through employment exchanges. This legal safeguard was designed to prevent arbitrary hiring and ensure that public posts, even temporary ones, are filled transparently. Yet, as in many other cases across departments and PSUs in Kerala, actual practice has steadily diverged from this framework. The danger in normalising this gap is not just administrative laxity — it sets the stage for unlawful regularisations, often timed with electoral cycles. The practice of extending temporary posts without break creates a class of employees whose continued presence itself becomes an argument for absorption into permanent service. This method was starkly evident ahead of the 2021 elections, when the previous LDF govt faced public criticism for a slew of regularisations done in the final months of its term. Interestingly, such practices were once a focal point of the LDF's criticism against the UDF govt during the 2016 elections. But govt records now indicate that the volume of temporary and daily-wage hiring has expanded further under successive LDF administrations. The issue appears to have outgrown partisan boundaries and settled into the fabric of routine governance. This trend has already attracted judicial scrutiny. In the landmark Umadevi judgment of 2006, a five-member Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court ruled that ad hoc appointments made outside legal norms cannot be regularised simply because the employee served for long. The court stressed that rules under Article 309 of the Constitution take precedence and that executive orders under Article 162 cannot be used to override them. Regular recruitment through open competition was affirmed as the only constitutionally sound method to fill public vacancies. Despite these clear directives, Kerala's hiring landscape continues to reflect a reliance on executive discretion. A senior bureaucrat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, admitted that while workload justification may hold on a case-by-case basis, the larger pattern raises valid concerns. "What we see here is a familiar route — posts kept 'temporary' for years, with the same people renewed annually. Eventually, political pressure builds for regularisation. That's a classic administrative bypass," the official said. "The deeper impact is on the morale of qualified youth waiting through the PSC pipeline. Many cleared exams, rank lists expired or were frozen, and meanwhile, departments quietly retain daily-wage staff for nearly a decade. The signals are discouraging for aspirants like me banking on a level playing field," a PSC rank holder awaiting an appointment said on condition of anonymity. The May 27 order, on the surface, is just another extension order. But it underscores a broader question of whether Kerala's public recruitment system is veering away from its constitutional anchor.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Red alert, holiday for schools in Kozhikode and Wayanad on May 26
Kozhikode and Wayanad have been put on red alert for Monday (May 26) and Tuesday (May 27) as rain continues to wreak havoc in many parts of these districts. The district collectors have also declared a holiday for educational institutions on Monday, while the day-off does not apply to prior scheduled examinations such as the university exams and tests conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission. Meanwhile, one person died when an uprooted coconut tree fell on his moving scooter due to heavy rain and wind near Villiappally near Vadakara in Kozhikode on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Pavithran, 64, of Kunnumayintavida Meethal in Villiappally. Pavithran was seriously injured in the accident that took place around 11 a.m. on Sunday. Though he was shifted to the district hospital in Vadakara, his life could not be saved. In another incident, two children were electrocuted at Kodenchery in Thamarassery Taluk. Nidhin Biju, 13, and Ivin Biju, 11, sons of Biju Chandrankunnel, were fishing in a canal when an electric wire broke off the post and fell into the canal. Due to heavy rains in the upland region of Kozhikode district, nine families of Manjacheeli in Vilangad village have been shifted to safer locations. The group, including 13 men, 12 women, and 11 children, have been moved to the rehabilitation camp set up at St. George High School, Vilangad. Manjacheeli had faced massive landslides on July 31, 2024, the same day the landslides hit Mundakkai and Chooralmala in Wayanad. Four families have been shifted to safety at Kavilumpara in Vadakara Taluk after the sides of a canal collapsed. A car was damaged at Mavoor when the compound wall of an auditorium collapsed over it. People residing on the banks of Korappuzha have been asked to stay alert and be ready to evacuate if the authorities demand to do so, due to the rising water level in the river. Public have been warned against entering or crossing the river. The people living in coastal areas have also been asked to stay alert and stay away from dangerous places. The fishing community has been asked to stay alert, refrain from taking small boats into the sea, to keep them anchored in the harbour at a safe distance to avoid them banging against each other. All visits to beaches have been banned. Wayanad Most grama panchayats in Wayanad district have set up 24-hour control rooms. Tourist spots in the red zone have been closed. District Collector D.R. Meghashree called upon the public to avoid unnecessary travel and to be extremely careful if travelling through upland regions in emergency situations. The secretary of the Vythiri grama panchayat has urged the public to cut down or crop tree branches that pose a threat to public safety. Any damage caused by such tree branches will lead to punishment of the owner under Section 30 (2-v) of the Disaster Management Act. In the case of trees like Teak and Rosewood that have been reserved for the government, the prescribed guidelines have to be followed.
