Rozgar Mela | Over 20 Lakh Stagnated Promotions Cleared In 11 Years: Dr Jitendra

NEW DELHI : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the past decade has witnessed a remarkable transformation in government recruitment, with the total number of appointments made through the Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Board and UPSC rising from about 7.22 lakh in the previous decade to 10.96 lakh in the last ten years — an increase of more than 50%.
The Minister revealed that another major achievement in the last decade has been the clearance of long-pending promotions. Over 20 lakh stagnated promotions have been processed across various departments in the past 11 years, ending years of stagnation for many employees. The number of appointments made for backlog and pending categories has increased nearly fourfold — from about 1.08 lakh earlier to 4.72 lakh in the last decade.
More than 51,000 appointments were made during the 17th tranche of the Rozgar Mela held today, marking another milestone in the government’s ongoing effort to expand employment opportunities across the country. Of these, around 14,000 to 15,000 appointments were made in the Railway Department — a development that, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, reflects the remarkable pace of growth in India’s railway network. He noted that Bihar alone has added 1,899 kilometres of new railway tracks in the past decade — more than the total rail network of Sri Lanka.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Rozgar Mela, launched three years ago under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has evolved into a symbol of transparency, efficiency, and trust in the public recruitment process.
He said this growth reflects the success of reforms initiated to make the recruitment process more transparent and time-bound. “The Prime Minister’s vision was to conduct appointments in a mission mode, with clear timelines, digitization, and a focus on merit,” Dr. Jitendra Singh said, adding that steps such as the abolition of interviews for certain government posts and computerization of the Staff Selection Commission’s process have strengthened public confidence.
The Minister said that another major achievement in the last decade has been the clearance of long-pending promotions. Over 20 lakh promotions have been processed across various departments in the past 11 years, ending years of stagnation for many employees. The number of appointments made for backlog and pending categories has increased nearly fourfold — from about 1.08 lakh earlier to 4.72 lakh in the last decade.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also highlighted how several state governments have adopted similar recruitment models inspired by the Rozgar Mela. Over the past 15 months, more than 4.6 lakh appointments have been made through such state-level initiatives. Bihar led the country with about 90,000 appointments, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 85,000 and Rajasthan with around 60,000.
The Minister linked this employment generation to the broader progress in infrastructure. Over the past decade, the length of national highways has expanded from 91,287 km to 1,46,204 km, while the number of operational airports has grown from 74 to 162. “These developments have not only strengthened connectivity but also created lakhs of direct and indirect jobs,” he said.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the government’s efforts have ensured that opportunities reach people at every level — from central ministries to state departments. “The Rozgar Mela is more than an appointment drive. It represents the government’s commitment to empower youth, ensure fairness, and make governance responsive and transparent,” he added.
He concluded by saying that as India’s economy continues to expand, the government will maintain its focus on creating new employment avenues through innovation, infrastructure, and administrative reforms, ensuring that every deserving citizen has the opportunity to contribute to nation-building.