The government on Wednesday notified that there has been an overall reduction in the number of job notification released by various governmental recruiting bodies in the year 2016-17 compared to previous years. The information was provided to the Lok Sabha by the Minister of Personnel Jitendra Singh in a written form.

A total of 100,933 jobs were recommended in the year 2016-17 as opposed to 111,812 and 113,524 in the year 2015-16 and 2014-15 respectively

Further breaking down the numbers, the vacancies under Union Public Services Commission (UPSC) saw a reduction of around 17% in the year 2016-17. The government recommended 5735 vacancies in 2016-17 compared to 6866 the previous year and 8272 in the year 2014-15.

There was a spike in the number of recommended jobs under Staff Selection Commission (SSC) which more than doubled from the previous year; 68,880 in year 2016-17 and 25,138 in 2015-17. But it should also be noted that the year 2015-2016 witnessed a drop of 57% compared to 2014-15.

The biggest cut was witnessed under Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) where the number of jobs recommended was just 33% compared to the previous year.

The minister also said that the government of India has no proposal to provide unemployment allowances.

In another reply answering on the SSC paper leak scam, the minister replied, “There was no leakage of question papers of a SSC examination. In view of some sporadic incidents of alleged cheating by some candidates at a few venues and subsequent agitation by a section of candidates, the commission, in order to reiterate and reaffirm the faith of the candidates in the examination process, recommended for an impartial enquiry by the CBI.”

Follow the recommendation, the Centre order a CBI probe on the scam on March 5th.