BENGALURU:Government jobs are a big draw not just in Uttar Pradesh, but also in Karnataka, which is known for its IT firms and multinational companies.
Nearly 14 lakh people have applied for just 3,800 posts of first division assistant (FDA) and second division assistant (SDA) in various government departments. The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) had called for applications in July for these posts. The selection will be made through a written test, to be held in the first week of October.
While around 5.5 lakh applications have been received for about 1,750 FDA posts, a little over eight lakh candidates have applied for 2,000 posts of SDA. The minimum qualification for an SDA post is II PU, and for the FDA post, a bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
FDA and SDA are entry-level jobs. SDAs draw salaries between Rs 11,600 and Rs 21,000 a month, while FDAs get a monthly salary of Rs 14,550 to Rs 26,700.
Recruitment agencies feel job security and facilities that come with government jobs are the main attraction for youngsters, especially from rural areas.
“We usually receive more applications for these posts since these are entry-level jobs and require minimum qualification. But this time, the number is really huge,’’ said KPSC secretary Manoj Kumar Meena.
Sources in the KPSC maintain that the number has increased drastically since no recruitment was held for these posts for almost three years due to confusion over reservation for candidates from the Hyderabad-Karnataka region after it was accorded a special status under Article 371 (J). Asked if the commission had categorised applicants on the basis of their qualifications to know if post-graduates, PhD holders and engineers were seeking FDA and SDA jobs, Meena said: “We have not done any such categorisation, but surely there will be many with much higher qualifications.”