The Kerala Public Service Commission seems to be quietly doing away with its experiment of a two-phased examination system, including a preliminary screening test, which was being implemented from December 2020 onwards. According to top PSC officials, the commission has not taken a formal decision on completely doing away with the system, but it has found it better to revert to the old system of a single examination for posts like Lower Division Clerk (LDC) or Last Grade Servant (LGS) for which a large number of candidates apply.
Back in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the PSC went for a major overhaul of its examination process with the introduction of a two-phased system. The screening tests were based on different standards, for Class X and below, higher secondary, and graduate levels. This was supposed to reduce the disadvantage of a common test. The second examination had questions related to the post for which they were being considered. But, the system had led to protests, with the Opposition parties demanding a rollback.
