New Delhi: The Ministry of Railways on Monday relaxed the upper age limit by two years for all categories in one of the world's largest recruitment drive for about 90,000 jobs.
"For the ongoing recruitment of Group C Level I & II posts, Ministry of Railways have decided to extend the relaxation in upper age limit," the ministry said in a statement.
Further, the candidates would have the option to take the exam in regional languages like Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Odia, Bangla and others, it said.
"Last date of submission of application would be extended suitably," it added.
Earlier, the ministry had invited online applications for 89,409 posts in Group C Level 1 (erstwhile Group D) like track maintainer, points man, helper, gateman, porter and Group C Level 2 categories like assistant loco pilots (ALP), technicians (fitter, crane driver, blacksmith, carpenter) through Railway Recruitment Boards websites.
For the Group C Level 1 posts, the upper age limit for unreserved community has been extended from 31 years to 33 years, for backward OBC community from 34 years to 36 years and for the SC/ST categories, it has been raised from 36 years to 38 years.
Similarly, for Group C Level 2 posts, the upper age limit for all communities have been raised by two years. For unreserved community, it is now 30 years, for OBC, it is 33 years and for the SC/ST communities, it is now 35 years.
Formal corrigendum is being issued on official websites of RRBs shortly along with the new last date of submission of application, said the press release.
This recruitment drive is open for candidates who have passed Class 10 and industrial training ITI for Group C Level I posts, and Class 10 and ITI or diploma in engineering or a graduation in engineering for Group C Level II posts.
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Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The ruling CPI(M) leaders on Monday rallied behind the party's politburo member A Vijayaraghavan in the raging political row over his controversial remarks on the Lok Sabha poll victories of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Wayanad.
During a recent party event in Wayanad, Vijayaraghavan reportedly claimed that Rahul secured victory in the high-range segment twice with the support of communal forces and that extremist elements were present at Priyanka Gandhi's campaign rallies.
Prominent Marxist party leaders on Monday said that Vijayaraghavan didn't say anything wrong or against the party's policy and they would oppose minority communalism and majority communalism alike.
They also reiterated the charges raised by Vijayaraghavan against the Congress and accused the grand-old party of entering into an unholy nexus with communal outfits for electoral gains.
The CPI(M) leadership came out in support of the politburo member a day after the Congress and their United Democratic Front (UDF) ally, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), alleged that Vijayaraghavan was attempting to provoke majority communalism in society.
When his reaction was sought by the media, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said what Vijayaraghavan had said was accurate and alleged that communal outfits like SDPI and Jamaat-e-islami were acting like front partners of the UDF.
He charged that their nexus was evident during the recent Palakkad Assembly bypoll.
The criticism against the Jamaat-e-islami was not against the Muslim community and the opposition against the RSS was not against the Hindus, he said, adding that the CPI(M) would not show any compromise in opposing both the minority and majority communalism.
Strongly supporting Vijayaraghavan, senior CPI(M) leader and ruling LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the leader had criticised the stand of the Congress party, which forges a nexus with communal forces during elections.
"Vijayaraghavan has not taken any communal stand. His remarks were also not meant to promote communalism. He has taken a stand that can safeguard society from communal forces," he said.
Senior leader and former minister P K Sreemathi also said Vijayaraghavan had not said anything other than the Marxist party's policy and stand.
Pointing out that communal and extremist forces are gaining strength in the state, she said they cannot be allowed to flourish in Kerala.
"Whoever it is... whether it is Hindu communalism or Muslim extremism, the CPI(M) will take a strong stand against it," she said.
She also accused the Congress of forging ties with communal forces during elections.
On Sunday, Congress leaders accused Vijayaraghavan of making comments against Rahul and Priyanka to "please" the Sangh Parivar, while the IUML alleged that he was attempting to provoke majority communalism in society.
AICC general secretary K C Venugopal strongly criticised Vijayaraghavan, accusing him of using "communal" language that even the Sangh Parivar might hesitate to employ against Rahul. Venugopal also questioned whether the CPI(M) shared the same opinion.
Leader of Opposition, V D Satheesan, echoed similar sentiments, charging the CPI(M) with pushing the same communal agenda propagated by the Sangh Parivar.
Harshly criticising Vijayaraghavan, KPCC chief K Sudhakaran accused the ruling CPI(M) of "surrendering to extreme communalism and providing support to the RSS in the state".