Restructuring of the Departmental Tests

ORDER:

Government have enacted the Andhra Pradesh Departmental Tests Rules, 1965,

which shall apply to all candidates who are the holders of civil posts under the State

Government and who appear for the Departmental Tests. In view of the changed

environment in all spheres of governance and the emerging challenges being faced by the

public servants, it is decided to have a relook at the existing pattern, syllabus and approach

for the Departmental Tests.

2. Government after careful consideration hereby constitute a Committee to finalise the

syllabus and approach for the Departmental Tests and identify the amendment required for

service rules with the following Members:

1. Special Chief Secretary to Government (CT & Excise),

Revenue Department.

Chairman

Principal Secretary/ Secretary (Services), General

Administration Department

Secretary to Government or his nominee, Finance

Department.

Member/Convenor

Member

3. Secretary to Government or his nominee, Law Department Member

4. Director General, Andhra Pradesh Human Resource

Development Institute.

Member

5. Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission Member

6. Commissioner, Agriculture Department Member

7. Engineer-in-Chief, Water Resources Department Member

3. The Terms-of-Reference of the Committee is as follows:-

a. Interact with each department and finalise the syllabus and approach for the

departmental tests and identify the amendment required for service rules;

b. Departmental Tests should be divided into two streams- Uniform tests to all

functionaries like computer tests, accounts tests, etc., and technical/ professional

tests;

c. Redundancy and duplication of tests like Account Tests, Executive Officer test, Local

Bodies employees’ tests may be avoided;

d. Departmental tests should be more objectively linked to the competencies that are

needed for the current or future jobs;

e. Departmental Tests should focus more on practical knowledge/skills pertaining to

the job instead of theoretical knowledge;

f. Departmental test for testing computer skills should be mandatory to all employees

in the context of e-Governance;

g. Drafting and noting skills may also be introduced as a part of Departmental Tests.

4. The issues mentioned above are only suggestive and the committee is at liberty to

expand the scope as required and to consider any other matter which it feels is appropriate

and relevant to the basic objective of this exercise.