Why has performance measurement become increasingly important in government? What are the advantages and drawbacks of instituting performance measurement efforts in public agencies?
Performance measurement
Performance measurement is most often considered as the apolitical application of the use of information, collected and used to demonstrate effectiveness against a set of criteria. Performance measurement is high on the agenda of governments in many nations, as they seek to demonstrate that the organizations and individuals that they fund and manage, even at one or more steps removed, are doing what they are mandated to do. In reality, many complexities are hidden behind this seemingly rational and technical enterprise. It can lead to decreased levels of output, make communication difficult, and it can lead to a lack of commitment. It is still judged through subjectivity and it requires some level of motivation.
understand the ‘scam’, we first need to know what the SSC is and what its functions are –
To the uninitiated, the Staff Selection Commission is an autonomous body falling under the Department of Personal and Training that is tasked with conducting examinations for the recruitment of non-gazetted staff to Group ‘ C ’ (Class III) and Group ‘ B ’ posts in a no of central government ministries and departments as well as subordinate offices.
The SSC was established on 4th November 1975. It was first established as the Sub-ordinate Services Commission and was later renamed the Staff Selection Commission on 26th September 1977. The commission constitutes a chairperson (As himKhorana), 2 members, and a secretary-cum-controller of exams.
Among the posts the aspirants take the SSC exam for are lower division clerks, stenographers, central excise inspectors, income tax inspectors, and sub-inspectors working for the CBI and central police organisations.
While it conducts a no of exams, the most significant one, which attracts the max no. of aspirants as well, examination.
What Is the ‘Scam’ All About?
The SSC ‘scam’, which has come to the spotlight in the last few days, pertains to the Tier II CGL exam , which was held across the country from 17th Feb to 22 Feb, with 1,89,843 aspirants appearing to fill 9,372 vacancies.
Barring the cancellation of the second shift of the exam on 17th February at the Animate InfoTech Centre in Delhi owing to an attempt to disrupt it by “some unruly elements,” the examination seemed to have been conducted smoothly.
However, on 21st February, several irregularities were reported in centres across the country — starting with technical glitches which delayed the examination for the 33,075 candidates who were appearing for it (on the day).