KTR call for online voting

 Following poor turnout in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections, Telangana Information Technology and Panchayat Raj Minister K Tarakarama Rao called for online voting in the elections.

KTR opined that on the lines of recruitment tests for government services online voting for the elections would increase the voting percentage.  “Only 45 per cent polling was registered in the GHMC elections. There is need for the country to think on the voting system. Now recruitments are being made online using biometric system. The same can be done for voting to increase the voting percentage. 

As several countries are allowing the online voting, the Central government and the Election Commission have to think and take a decision on it,” he told reporters after addressing the inaugural function of 18th National Conference of Chairpersons of State Public Service Commissions’ at a resort on the outskirts of Hyderabad on Thursday.

Union Public Service Commission Chairman Deepak Gupta lauded the efforts of the Telangana State Public Service Commission for opting



online mode of examination for recruitment of services within a short period.  

The UPSC Chairman said the Commission had successfully conducted two editions of the Central Medical Service Examination in 2014 and 2015 as computer-based test. 

He added that entire application process has been made online catering to more than 3.3 million applicants annually. Listing of the problems being faced by the State Public Service Commissions, Convener of Standing Committee of PSCs and Himachal Pradesh PSC chairman KS Tomar said constitutional protection to the chairpersons and members of PSCs, autonomy and administrative autonomy in PSCs and enhancement of retirement age of chairpersons and members of PSCs from 62 to 65 years.

TSPSC Chairman Ghanta Chakrapani said the Commission has conducted nine recruitment tests of which six were computer-based online examinations and two were pen and paper mode. He added that the TSPSC was the first Commission in conducting computer-based exam for 30,000 candidates and intends to conduct exams for 40,000 to 50,000 candidates in days to come.