ITANAGAR : The Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, on Thursday approved uniform eligibility criteria for direct recruitment through competitive examinations to all Group A, B and C services and posts under the state government.
The criteria will apply to posts and services under state government departments, public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies and local and urban bodies, among others. The provisions will take immediate effect for all Recruitment Rules and Service Rules governing Group A, B and C posts and their equivalents.
Under the new criteria, candidates seeking direct recruitment must fulfil three mandatory conditions—possess a valid Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC), be an original inhabitant of Arunachal Pradesh belonging to the Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) category, and possess proficiency in any one of the notified Indigenous Tribal Languages of the state.
Candidates must also be Indian citizens. The APST certificate must correspond to tribes notified by the Government of India under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, as amended from time to time.
The Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) and Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB) have been directed to incorporate the eligibility clauses and a post-joining language test mechanism in future recruitment advertisements and rules.
Other Cabinet decisions
In the Education Department, the Cabinet approved a one-time relaxation of two years in the qualifying service/residency period prescribed under the Recruitment Rules, 2010, for promotion to Principal/DDSE. The qualifying period for promotion of Headmasters/Vice-Principals and District Adult Education Officers to Principal/DDSE has been reduced from eight to six years.
The decision is expected to facilitate the filling of existing vacancies of Principals in Government Higher Secondary Schools and strengthen academic and administrative management.
The Cabinet also approved redesignation of the post of Forester as Deputy Forest Ranger (Special Grade) to recognise and motivate frontline forest personnel and their long-standing service.
It approved the Draft Arunachal Pradesh Industrial Development Area Bill, 2026 (APIDA, 2026), for introduction in the Legislative Assembly. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a statutory framework for the planned development, management and maintenance of Industrial Development Areas in the state.
The Cabinet further approved amendments to the Senior Statistical Assistant Recruitment Rules, 2000, under the Agriculture Department to regularise changes made through government orders and notifications and incorporate recommendations of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Training relating to pay scale, recruitment age, qualification, recruitment method, Departmental Promotion Committee composition and consultation with APPSC.
A one-time relaxation in the qualifying service for promotion from Executive Engineer (EE) to Superintending Engineer (SE) in the Public Works Department was also approved to address the shortage of Superintending Engineers and vacancies affecting cadre management, project supervision and timely execution of infrastructure works.
The Cabinet approved shifting of the existing Rupa Highway Division of the Public Works Department to Nafra in Bichom district and its redesignation as the Nafra PWD Division. The move follows the transfer of Frontier Highway works from PWD to NHIDCL/BRO and is aimed at strengthening administrative infrastructure in the newly created district.
Amendments to the Recruitment Rules for Field Publicity Assistant (FPA) under the Directorate of Information and Public Relations were also approved to rationalise existing provisions and strengthen field-level public communication.
To address the manpower requirement of the Directorate of Sericulture, the Cabinet approved creation of one post of Deputy Director of Sericulture under the Sericulture Department.
