Dimapur, August 18 (MExN): The 5 Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy has sought clarification from the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) over the allocation of posts under the Backward Tribe (BT) reservation category in the NCS, NPS & Allied Services Examination 2025.
In a letter to the NPSC Secretary on August 18, the committee questioned the allocation of BT-reserved posts in what it described as “important and premium posts”, stating that the proportion appeared to exceed the prescribed overall reservation percentage.
The committee pointed to the allocation of three of the six Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) posts, or 50%, to the BT category, while the total reservation prescribed for the 11 Backward Tribes is stated to be below 37%.
Similarly, it noted that two of the three Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) posts, or 66.67%, were allocated under the BT category. In the case of Block Development Officer (BDO), three of six posts, or 50%, were allocated to the category.
The committee said these allocations “appear to result in the proportion of reservation under the Backward Tribe category exceeding the prescribed overall reservation limit of 41% across all categories.”
It also raised concern over the impact of such allocations when the number of vacancies in a particular service is small. “Allocation of 50% or 66.67% of the posts to one reservation category has a significant impact on the overall reservation ratio,” it stated.
The committee further said that, to its understanding, the vacancies did not involve backlog vacancies that could otherwise justify carrying forward or adjusting unfilled reserved posts from previous recruitment exercises. The committee asked the NPSC to specify the “statutory/rule-based provision” under which the posts were allocated to the BT category.
It also asked whether reservation is calculated separately for each post or service, or by taking the total cadre strength and roster points into consideration. The committee sought details on whether any backlog or carried-forward vacancies from previous recruitment years were included in the allocation and, if so, the details of such vacancies.
It further asked the Commission to explain “how the allocation of 50% in EAC and BDO and 66.67% in DySP conform to the prescribed overall reservation limit.” The committee also sought disclosure of the relevant roster positions or roster points if a roster system was followed in making the allocations.
According to the committee, the clarification was being sought to understand “the manner in which the reservation roster has been applied” and to ensure “transparency and consistency in the implementation of the reservation policy”, particularly in recruitment to premium posts where vacancies are limited.
