Former PSC Chair Mainali Says Loksewa Exams Are Unbiased
Former Public Service Commission Chair Umesh Mainali has said that there is no bias, discrimination, or injustice of any kind in the Loksewa (public service) examinations, and that deserving candidates get opportunities.
“If you suspect that there is influence-peddling in Loksewa, remove that doubt starting today,” he urged.
He made this request on Friday here while speaking at the “Loksewa Examination Online Preparation Class Operation Inauguration Program” organized by Adivasi Janajati Utthan Rastriya Pratisthan.
“No manipulation in Loksewa exams”
“There is no manipulation in the Loksewa examinations; those who present well get opportunities,” he said. “Reservations have been arranged for social justice. This provision was made so that the civil service reflects the same picture as our society.”
Stating that there are examples of Indigenous (Adivasi Janajati) students who took exams in both the Adivasi Janajati quota and the open category and still topped through the open category, he added:
“Influence-peddling does not work in Loksewa. Even the person checking answer scripts does not know whose copy is being checked. Loksewa examinations are impartial, so prepare with confidence.”
He also said that when subject experts award less than 40 percent or more than 70 percent marks while checking answer scripts, they must provide reasons.
Civil servants as the state’s permanent government
Discussing the civil service as the country’s permanent government, he said there is a provision to remove employees mid-career only in cases involving bribe-taking and criminal offenses.
He said there are arrangements for benefits even at retirement, and that when an employee dies, a legal heir in the family can also receive a pension. Despite such provisions, he said, taking bribes should be considered betrayal of the nation.
He suggested that because the wrongdoing of a few employees can defame the entire civil service, employees should be honest and dedicated to serving the country and the people.
Saying that civil servants are the government that reaches people’s doorsteps, he stated:
“The Prime Minister and ministers do not reach the doorsteps of people in remote areas. Government employees are the ones who reach people’s doorsteps. The work and decisions made by employees become the work and decisions of the government, so employees must be more accountable to the people.”
Do not let trust be lost
Saying that, at present, the civil service is facing public neglect, he said, “Because some employees take bribes, people’s trust in public service is being lost; new employees must win that trust.”
He added that Loksewa operates through a system and there is no room to bend it to the left or right.
He said that while the tendency for employees to take bribes exists to some extent everywhere except Denmark, taking bribes is dishonesty toward the country and the people.
“In our neighboring country China, a corrupt employee faces the death penalty, yet China stands at 70th position in the list of corrupt countries. We do not have a law to impose the death penalty, and we are at 107th position,” he said. “Being an employee means serving, not taking bribes. One should not even think about taking bribes.”
“Civil service is a highly attractive profession”
He said the civil service profession is extremely attractive. Sharing his own example, former chair Mainali said:
“I was also once a teacher at a village school. My father was a Pradhanpancha. When the district CDOs came to meet my father—riding horses and arriving with security personnel—I saw that prestige. Seeing that prestige, I left teaching, passed Loksewa, and entered the civil service. I became Home Secretary, then Chair of the Public Service Commission, and am now retired.”
He urged, “Employees are servants of the country and the people. They must serve with a strong sense of duty. If all employees become honest, it will not take long to build the country. The new young generation must reflect on this.”
He further said, “After becoming a civil servant, one should not just sit and make TikTok videos. Making TikTok is for celebrities; civil servants do not have that leeway.”
Stating that women’s participation in the civil service is increasing, he said women’s representation in the civil service has reached 30 percent.
Representation of Indigenous communities
Vice-Chair of Adivasi Janajati Utthan Rastriya Pratisthan, Resham Gurung, said Indigenous communities still do not have adequate representation in the civil service.
He said that although Indigenous communities constitute 35.4 percent, only 16.9 percent of civil service employees are Indigenous, and he suggested that Indigenous youth need to work harder for the Loksewa examinations.
Online preparation class launched
Students preparing for Loksewa examinations participated in the inaugural session managed by Network Educational Academy.
Gurung said the Pratisthan has started a three-month Loksewa preparation class, and that subject experts will conduct classes online.
