By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 26: The state cabinet has taken into consideration the report of the MPSC Reforms Committee, 2025, which outlines a series of short-term, medium-term and long-term measures aimed at strengthening the functioning of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) and making it more transparent and efficient.
Informing this, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma explained that the short-term measures are designed to streamline procedures and address gaps that have undermined public confidence in the commission. Among the immediate steps proposed are the formation of multiple interview boards to speed up the process, adoption of clear interview protocols and mandatory conflict-of-interest reviews requiring board members to recuse themselves if a relative is among the candidates.
The report further suggests that the chairman and committee members declare their assets and liabilities, while the commission prepares an annual calendar of its activities along with annual reports. It also recommends the creation of a grievance cell, a rule ensuring that candidate roll numbers remain unchanged during recruitment and the public disclosure of both interview marks and overall scores. To safeguard integrity, the report calls for strict confidentiality in the handling of question papers with defined procedures to prevent leaks and prohibits any changes to the recruitment process once it has begun.
Other measures include publishing candidate-to-vacancy ratios, releasing answer keys after examinations with a fixed window for challenges and addressing corruption and vigilance issues under the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014.
According to the chief minister, these reforms were essential to restore public trust and reaffirm the credibility of the recruitment system.
He added that while the cabinet has noted the immediate steps recommended, the medium and long-term reforms outlined by the committee will also be taken up for examination in due course.
