Arunachal Cabinet forms panel to oversee Upper Siang project survey

Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Pema Khandu passed a resolution approving the constitution of an Empowered High-Level Committee to guide and coordinate the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) Survey and associate activities for the proposed Upper Siang Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in Siang and Upper Siang Districts. The resolution reflects the Government’s continuing commitment to ensuring the Survey is carried out in a transparent, peaceful and people-centric manner.

The Cabinet noted that the Project has been declared a National Project by the Government of India in 2008, underlining its strategic significance for the Nation and Arunachal Pradesh, with the potential to strengthen water and energy security, aid flood moderation in the Siang-Brahmaputra basin, generate employment, and support long-term socio-economic development of the Siang region.

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To guide this engagement, the resolution constituted an Empowered High-Level Committee under the chairmanship of Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ojing Tasing, with Alo Libang, Advisor to the Chief Minister and MLA, Yingkiong & Tuting, and Oni Panyang, MLA, Geku-Mariyang, as Members.

The Cabinet also took note of concerns raised by some sections of people in these Districts regarding misinformation and disinformation being spread by certain vested interests and further resolved that PFR’s peaceful conduct depends on sustained, meaningful engagement with residents of Siang and Upper Siang Districts. It emphasized that the voices, welfare and aspirations of likely Project Affected Families (PAFs) and local communities have always been, and will always remain, central to the process.

The Cabinet further reaffirmed its commitment to development that respects local traditions and community interests, expressing confidence that dialogue will help the Survey proceed peacefully, in the larger interest of the Siang region and the nation.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today inaugurated a newly added Conference Hall at the office premises of the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB) here, describing the creation of the Board as one of the most significant and far-reaching reforms undertaken by his government in the area of public recruitment.

Speaking at the inaugural programme, Khandu said the establishment of APSSB was conceived to create a transparent and equitable recruitment mechanism for Group C and D posts, replacing the earlier system under which departments themselves undertook recruitment to such positions.

The Chief Minister said that while individual departments have their own requirements and processes, a decentralized recruitment system could leave room for inconsistencies and concerns regarding fairness and external influence. He said the objective behind creating a dedicated recruitment institution was to ensure an equal playing field for all candidates, irrespective of their social or political background.

Khandu said the reform was conceived after he assumed office in 2016 and was deliberately institutionalized through legislation rather than merely through an executive or Cabinet order. The Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board was established under the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board Act, 2018 (Act No. 14 of 2018).

“I still believe that the reform we brought into the recruitment system by creating the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board is historic in itself. Perhaps we do not realize its significance fully today, but in the years to come we will understand it much better,” he said.

The Chief Minister pointed that since beginning its examinations in 2019, APSSB has conducted 38 examinations and recommended 5,836 candidates for appointment against various vacancies, with lakhs of candidates having participated in the recruitment process. The 39th examination, the Common Higher Secondary Level Examination (CHSLE), 2026, is currently in progress.

He said the Board has emerged as the principal recruitment channel for Group C and D posts, while recruitment to Group A and B posts is undertaken through the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC). He also highlighted that APSSB is an ISO-certified organization, reflecting the institutional standards it has established in its functioning.

Recalling the recruitment system that existed before APSSB, Khandu said recruitment to Group B and C posts was largely undertaken departmentally. Referring to his own experience as a minister, he recalled how he had advocated routing recruitment for certain posts through the Public Service Commission to ensure greater transparency and merit.

The Chief Minister said the introduction of APSSB has had a wider impact beyond recruitment itself, as young people now understand that securing a government job requires preparation, study and hard work. He said the merit-based recruitment system has helped create a healthy competitive environment among the youth, while also contributing to improvement in the educational orientation and preparedness of aspiring candidates.

Khandu also referred to the government’s efforts to strengthen pathways for Arunachali youth aspiring for higher-level competitive examinations. He said the government introduced a common preparation framework, including the CSET system, after consultations with experienced civil servants and an assessment of why Arunachali candidates were finding it difficult to transition from state-level to UPSC examinations.

He said the intervention has subsequently helped more Arunachali youth qualify for All India Services and Group A services through UPSC.

Khandu said APSSB is also increasingly becoming a stepping stone for young government employees aspiring to higher services. He noted that some candidates who enter government service through the Board subsequently compete for APPSC and other higher-level examinations.

He appreciated the Board’s initiative to strengthen the career progression of its recruits and said the government has accepted its proposal to increase the weightage and duration of relevant experience, helping avoid repeated disruption in the recruitment cycle.

“The workforce that will come into the Arunachal government in the coming years will be a very strong workforce. The young people joining through the Staff Selection Board are brilliant, digitally equipped and part of a new generation,” he said.

Khandu also emphasized the need to strengthen the Board’s infrastructure and manpower capacity in view of the increasing volume of recruitment. He said several new posts are being created across departments and APSSB would consequently have to handle a growing recruitment workload. He directed the Chief Secretary to immediately examine the requirement for a new and dedicated infrastructure for APSSB, including the possibility of shifting the existing establishment if necessary.

He also stressed the need for adequate technical manpower and staff support for the Board, noting that APSSB is expected to undertake a substantial share of government recruitment in terms of the number of posts involved.

“There can be no compromise when it comes to the Public Service Commission and the Staff Selection Board. Strengthening these two institutions is the responsibility of the government,” he said.