Candidates demand rule change in MP SI recruitment:Aspirants urge govt to grant 3-year age relaxation, citing earlier announcement made during COVID-19

After a six-year gap, the Madhya Pradesh government has announced recruitment for 7,000 Sub-Inspector (SI) posts, but the absence of age relaxation has sparked anger among thousands of aspirants. Candidates claim that nearly two lakh youths will be deprived of the opportunity to appear for the exam due to overage restrictions — even though the government had earlier announced a three-year age relaxation for delayed recruitments during the COVID-19 period. Exam delayed since 2019, thousands now overaged The SI recruitment exam was originally scheduled for 2019, but was postponed without explanation. Over the years, changes in government and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed the process. In September 2022, the Madhya Pradesh government had issued an official order granting three years of additional age relaxation for all recruitment exams delayed due to the pandemic. However, this provision was excluded from the current SI recruitment, leaving many long-preparing candidates ineligible. While this relaxation has been implemented in other exams like MPPSC, candidates are questioning why it has been ignored for the SI recruitment, which is taking place after seven years. Even the Central Government has provided a similar three-year extension in its recruitments. Aspirants say: Nearly 2 lakh candidates will be left out Frustrated candidates have pointed out that the State Home Department itself had earlier admitted delays in conducting the SI exam through an official social media post. Ravi, one of the aspirants, said, If the government does not grant three years of relaxation, nearly two lakh candidates will be automatically disqualified. We have waited and prepared for this exam for years — this decision is unfair. Stories of lost hope: “We waited for years, now we’re disqualified” Pradeep Singh, another candidate, had appeared for the 2017-18 SI exam but narrowly missed the merit list. Since then, he has been preparing exclusively for the next recruitment. “For the past 7–8 years, I’ve been preparing for this one job. Now that the exam is finally out, I’m overaged and ineligible. This feels like all my hard work and years of waiting have gone to waste,” he said, adding that his family depends on him financially. Students appeal to CM, Ministers for intervention Another aspirant, Milan Sharma, said that the maximum age limit for the unreserved category is 33 years, which most candidates have now crossed. “This is the first SI recruitment after COVID-19. The government should at least give us one fair chance,” he urged. The candidates have submitted memorandums to Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, Deputy CM Jagdish Devda, Cabinet Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, and senior minister Gopal Bhargava, seeking restoration of the age relaxation clause. Home Department claims unawareness When Dainik Bhaskar contacted Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Shiv Shekhar Shukla, he said, I am not aware of any such provision at the moment. I will gather information on the matter and take appropriate steps if necessary. Background: COVID order from 2022 The September 18, 2022 order issued by the Madhya Pradesh government clearly stated that all recruitments delayed due to the pandemic would allow a three-year relaxation in the upper age limit. Candidates argue that the SI recruitment, delayed for administrative and pandemic-related reasons, falls under this category and must be treated similarly.