The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) expressed its approval on Wednesday regarding the decision made by the state Public Service Commission to require candidates applying for 155 Group-A and Group-B technical positions to possess a Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC), an Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) certificate, and proficiency in an indigenous tribal language.

This announcement by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) pertains to the common recruitment examination for Group-A and Group-B technical roles for the year 2026 (Part-I). It encompasses openings in various departments, including agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, veterinary services, as well as textiles and handicrafts.

The introduction of these eligibility requirements aligns with the state government’s initiative to establish standardized criteria for direct recruitment processes.

The state cabinet endorsed these criteria on August 13, and on August 26, the administrative reforms and training department issued an official notification making it mandatory to present a valid PRC, an APST certificate, and knowledge of an indigenous tribal language for direct recruitment to Group A, B, and C posts.

AAPSU President Meje Taku highlighted that the APPSC’s announcement marks a crucial advancement in addressing the demands of the state’s indigenous communities. He stated, “This has been a long-standing request from our people, emphasizing that government recruitment should prioritize the sons and daughters of this land. We fully support this decision from the APPSC and the state government.”

He further expressed hope that the new eligibility requirements would be applied to all forthcoming recruitment examinations, rather than being confined to the current process. “This is just Part-I. Our aspiration is for this standard to become the norm for all future recruitment examinations across every department,” he added.

AAPSU General Secretary Tator Mato Bui noted that the addition of PRC, APST, and indigenous language stipulations aligns with the union’s 13-point memorandum presented to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, as well as their ongoing discussions with the high-powered committee focused on recruitment matters.

The prominent students’ organization affirmed its commitment to overseeing the implementation of these provisions and called on the government and recruitment bodies to apply the new criteria consistently in all upcoming recruitment processes.

The government’s notification dated August 26 instructs recruitment agencies, including the APPSC and the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB), to embed the new eligibility requirements in their recruitment advertisements and relevant service regulations.