Arunachal Pradesh Drafts Proposal to Scrap 80:20 Recruitment Ratio

Arunachal Pradesh is moving towards a major overhaul of its government recruitment policy, with a High-Powered Committee (HPC) clearing a draft proposal to scrap the existing 80:20 recruitment ratio. The proposal is expected to be placed before the state Cabinet on August 13 for final approval.

Under the current system, 80% of government posts are reserved for APST candidates, while 20% remain open to all eligible applicants, including tribal candidates. The policy was introduced to protect employment opportunities for indigenous tribal communities in a state where government jobs are an important source of formal employment. The 80:20 arrangement dates back to an October 10, 2000 government Office Memorandum, and its application was subsequently reflected in court proceedings.

The proposed change comes amid growing demands from student and tribal organisations for stronger safeguards for indigenous candidates. HPC chairman and Skill Development and IPR Minister Nyato Dukam said the draft was approved after consultations with legal experts, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) and other stakeholders.

The revised framework may make Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) and APST certificates mandatory for candidates appearing in state government competitive examinations. The committee has also discussed introducing a local dialect criterion. For candidates, ending the 80:20 system could alter the competition structure substantially. While the final impact will depend on the Cabinet-approved framework, stricter PRC and APST requirements could limit eligibility for non-local applicants while providing clearer employment safeguards for indigenous candidates.

Other Northeastern states follow different models. Nagaland has historically used substantial reservations for indigenous Scheduled Tribes, including an 80% quota in government recruitment, while Meghalaya follows a community-based reservation structure for major tribal groups. These differences reflect the region’s broader emphasis on protecting indigenous employment.

The development comes as AAPSU presses for abolition of the existing ratio. The students’ body has set August 15 as its deadline and warned of a 12-hour statewide bandh on August 17 if its demand is not addressed. The Cabinet’s decision could mark a significant shift in Arunachal Pradesh’s long-standing recruitment policy.