Panaji: The Goa government announced on Sunday that all vacancies across its departments will be filled through the State Staff Selection Commission or the Goa Public Service Commission, countering criticism from the opposition over alleged lack of transparency in recruitment.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant emphasized that the state government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been transparent in its hiring practices. “We have already clarified our stance on recruitment,” Sawant told reporters, defending the state’s processes.
The remarks come as several police cases have emerged involving complaints from job-seekers who were allegedly duped with false promises of government positions. The opposition has also accused the government of running an opaque hiring system.
A senior state official highlighted that the Goa Staff Selection Commission (GSPC) manages the selection process for subordinate (Group C) posts. According to GSPC regulations, all departments must submit their recruitment requirements in January each year. The Commission then advertises the vacancies and conducts Computer Based Tests.
The official explained that GSPC works with experts to prepare a bank of questions, which is uploaded just minutes before the test. The system then generates a question paper for each candidate. “When a candidate submits their answers, their score is instantly visible on the screen,” the official said, emphasizing the transparency of the process.
The GSPC publishes the test scores on its website within 24 hours, providing candidates the opportunity to raise grievances before the final results are announced. The subsequent steps, including forwarding recommendations to the relevant departments, are completed within two weeks.
Last year, 33 positions—including roles such as network engineer, laboratory technician, librarian, and assistant sub-inspector—were filled through this system. This year, the GSPC advertised 36 vacancies for trained English teachers in the Education Department, and selected candidates have already received appointment offers.
Meanwhile, Goa police revealed on Saturday that 33 suspects were arrested in the past month for allegedly scamming over 40 individuals of more than Rs 5 crore by promising government jobs. The accused reportedly deceived victims by falsely claiming connections with high-ranking officials and ministers.
