Itanagar, May 25: Chief Minister on Monday reaffirmed the State Government’s unwavering commitment towards ensuring a fair, transparent and merit-based recruitment system while addressing the felicitation and distribution ceremony of appointment orders to 404 successful candidates of the Junior Engineer Combined Recruitment Examination (JECRE) 2025 conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC).
Congratulating the newly-appointed Junior Engineers and their family members, the Chief Minister said their success was the result of hard work, merit and the unwavering support of parents, guardians and well-wishers.
Highlighting the scale and competitiveness of the recruitment process, Khandu informed that a total of 9,023 candidates had appeared for the written examination, out of which 1,236 qualified for the interview stage, ultimately leading to the selection of 404 candidates.
He lauded the APPSC for conducting the examination in a transparent and time-bound manner. The Chief Minister noted that the Commission was recently conferred the State Gold Medal during its 40th Foundation Day celebration along with the Chief Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in recognition of its reforms and contribution towards restoring credibility and integrity in the recruitment system.
Recalling the reforms initiated after irregularities surfaced in the Commission in 2020, Khandu said the government undertook a complete overhaul of the institution by addressing loopholes and grey areas through extensive consultations with experts and stakeholders. He stated that the Commission has now emerged as a robust and credible institution successfully conducting transparent recruitment for Group A and Group B services over the past several years.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the role of the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB), established in 2017 to streamline recruitment for Group C posts and provide equal opportunities to aspirants irrespective of influence or connections.
He said the government’s reform-driven approach was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who emphasized the importance of systemic reforms for accelerating Arunachal Pradesh’s development trajectory.
Encouraging the successful candidates to aim higher, Khandu urged them to continue preparing for examinations conducted by APPSC and even the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). He expressed confidence that many among them would go on to occupy higher administrative positions in the future.
The newly-appointed Junior Engineers have been recruited across key engineering departments including Public Works Department, Rural Works Department, Urban Development & Housing, Public Health Engineering & Water Supply Department, Hydro Power Development Department and the Department of Power.
Describing the role of JEs as crucial in infrastructure development, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of maintaining quality, transparency and timely completion of government projects.
Referring to recent district-level reviews conducted by the State Government, he said shortage of technical manpower had emerged as a major concern across districts and expressed confidence that the new appointments would significantly help bridge the gap.
Khandu urged the engineers to uphold the highest professional standards and ensure that quality is never compromised in the execution of roads, bridges, buildings and other public infrastructure projects. He observed that quality issues in public works often arise due to inadequate technical supervision and emphasized that the newly-recruited engineers would play a vital role in strengthening project monitoring and implementation.
The Chief Minister further informed that the State Government would soon facilitate professional training for the newly-appointed engineers in collaboration with reputed institutions before their field postings. Initially, the engineers would be posted in planning and design wings under various departments to gain technical exposure and practical experience under senior officers before being assigned site responsibilities.
Stressing the importance of planning and design, Khandu said these wings form the backbone of engineering departments as all project execution depends on proper planning, structural design and technical scrutiny.
He also called upon the youth to contribute towards building a positive and progressive environment in the State by guiding unemployed and uneducated youths in their respective communities towards productive opportunities. He urged educated youths to continuously upgrade their knowledge and explore various government schemes and entrepreneurship opportunities beyond conventional government employment.
Referring to the rapid growth of the hydropower sector in the State, the Chief Minister said Arunachal Pradesh is witnessing investments worth nearly Rs 2 lakh crore in the sector owing to the vision and support of PM Modi. He said such investments would gradually transform the State’s economic landscape and create new opportunities for the younger generation.
Reiterating that honesty and transparency remain non-negotiable principles of the present government, Khandu urged the recruits to work with dedication, sincerity and the spirit of “Team Arunachal” while serving the people of the State.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Ministers, MLAs, the Chief Secretary, senior officers of the concerned departments were also present during the programme.