The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) have concluded the first stage online computer-based test (CBT) for hiring eligible candidates in Group C Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) and Technician positions. Stringent measures have been adopted to conduct the exam peacefully, which is labelled as the largest recruitment drive in the world. The Ministry of Railways yesterday tweeted informing the number of candidates participating in the exams. Above 47 lakh candidates applied this year, the attendance stood at 76.76 per cent owing 36 lakh participation. The official figures reveal that around 11 lakh students skipped the RRB Group C exams. RRB Group C Recruitment Exam 2018 Records Highest Number of Attendance; Over 76% Participated in ALP & Technician Exam. 

The major reason behind such absenteeism could be the location of the exam centre. As soon as the admit cards including the details of the exam venue was released, many applicants voiced their dissatisfaction with not getting the exam centres near their homes. Where 40 lakh candidates have obtained centres within 500 km, 17 per cent got exam centres beyond that of their homes. Explaining the figures, the Railway Ministry in an earlier report had said, “Around 83% candidates have been provided centres within 500 kilometers. Special care has been taken to ensure that almost all women candidates and Persons with Disability are provided centres within 200 kilometers.” Indian Railways Justifies Why ALP & Technician Candidates Are Allotted Centres Outside Their States. 

The Group C ALP and Technician exams which began nationally on August 9 ended at Kerala on September 4. As the railway has received a massive response this year, creating a history in the recruitment process, RRB is set to conduct the Group D exams for 62,907 vacancies. In this, the Indian Railways received about 1.89 crore applicants to compete in the exam, which is tentatively scheduled to be held on September 17. The detailed timetable will be released ten days before the exam.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 06, 2018 10:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).