No junior-level interviews in central government, PSUs from January 1

There will be no more interviews for selection in junior level posts and non-gazetted posts of the central government from January 1, 2016, a government memorandum said on Tuesday.

"The timeline set regarding completing the process of the discontinuation of interview by December 31, 2015 has to be adhered to strictly," said the memorandum from the department of personnel and training issued to all central ministries, departments, attached offices, subordinate offices, autonomous bodies and public sector undertakings.

"From January 1, 2016, there will be no recruitment with interview at the junior level posts," it said.

"All advertisements for future vacancies will be without interview as part of the recruitment process.

"It is also clarified that as skill test or physical test is different from interview, they may continue. However, these tests will only be of qualifying nature. Assessment will not be done on the basis of marks for such tests," it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly suggested doing away with interview for most junior level posts to reduce scope of discretion.

In case of specific posts where the ministry or department wants to continue taking interview as a process of recruitment, a detailed proposal seeking exemption will have to be sent to the department with the approval of the minister or minister-in-charge.

The ministries have been asked to send a consolidated report by January 7 in this regard.