UP mandates recruitment through authorized agencies, ending direct hiring

The Uttar Pradesh government has overhauled its recruitment process, mandating that all departments hire staff solely through authorized agencies, effectively ending direct and ad hoc hiring.

The reform is aimed at introducing transparency, accountability, and discipline into government recruitment, providing job seekers with a secure and structured system.

Officials say the change is expected to benefit young applicants through a fair and systematic process.

An order issued by Amit Ghosh, principal secretary of the Secretariat Administration, emphasizes that the newly formed outsourcing body will protect employees from exploitation and ensure job security.

The move is also projected to generate substantial employment opportunities.

The Uttar Pradesh Outsourcing Services Corporation (UPSOC) has been established as a public limited, non-profit company under the Companies Act, 2013.

It will act as a regulatory authority overseeing the outsourced recruitment process.

Recruitment will include written examinations, with interviews required for certain positions. Outsourced posts are classified into four pay levels: ₹40,000, ₹25,000, ₹22,000, and ₹20,000 per month.

Level 1 roles, paying ₹40,000, include doctors, engineers, lecturers, project officers, account officers, assistant architects, and research officers, requiring professional degrees such as MBBS, BTech, or postgraduate qualifications.

Level 2 positions, paying ₹25,000, cover junior engineers, staff nurses, senior assistants, and legal assistants, requiring bachelor’s, master’s, or specialized diplomas.

Level 3 positions (₹22,000) include junior assistants, typists, drivers, and paramedical staff, with qualifications ranging from graduation to intermediate certificates and computer skills.

Level 4 roles, paying ₹20,000, are open to those with 8th- or 10th-grade education and include office assistants, peons, cooks, cleaners, and other support staff.

The Chief Secretary will chair UPSOC, with the Director General serving as Secretary. The governance structure also includes additional chief secretaries, executive directors, general managers, and other personnel.

Seven monitoring committees, from headquarters to local levels, will supervise recruitment and the work of outsourced employees to ensure accountability.

Reservation benefits will be extended to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, women, persons with disabilities, and ex-servicemen, in line with government rules.

Employees will receive social security benefits, including Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), Employees’ State Insurance (ESI), paid maternity and medical leave, and health services.

The order also stipulates strict action against irregularities, with immediate termination for any employee found violating rules. Recruitment through UPSOC is expected to begin within two months of the order.