In order to provide more bureaucratic jobs to the disabled, the Centre has decided to carry forward the reserved seats, if a suitable candidate is not found, to the next year. And given an increased job pool from next year, it is raising the number of attempts such candidates could take in the civil services examination.

In order to ensure “full utilization of quota” for the physically challenged, backlogs in filling such jobs would be treated the same way as those for SC and ST categories, says a document from the Department of Personnel & Training.

Usually, if a suitable candidate is not found in a category, the job is handed to another category or general category. But in the case of SCs and STs, the seat does not get abolished and is added to their next year’s quota.

This is being done since “sufficient number of candidates could not be selected for allocation

of service for various reasons” even though the policy providing

3 per cent reservation for the physically handicapped was introduced in 2001.

Beginning Civil Services Examination 2008, “the physically challenged persons belonging to the General category shall be eligible for seven attempts,” says the note. The step is being taken to “improve access and increase representation” in the civil services.

At present, the disabled get four attempts to secure a job in the Central government services while those from OBC and SC/ST get seven and unlimited chances, respectively, within the age limit specified for their category.

... contd.