Gujarat&rsquo;s recruitment framework continues to struggle with sluggish digital systems, fragmented platforms and paperwork-heavy verification processes, according to the latest findings of the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC). The report outlines how these bottlenecks have collectively stretched hiring timelines across major departments, despite an expanding demand for public service personnel.
GARC notes that the state&rsquo;s central Online Job Application System (OJAS) repeatedly faces server overload during peak application periods, slowing down submissions and occasionally causing temporary crashes. Candidates also report frequent lapses in SMS and email notifications for call letters, forcing many to rely on informal networks for updates. In addition, limited computer-based examination capacity with fewer than 10,000 seats available per shift, continues to strain scheduling.
The document highlights partial digitisation as a major contributor to delays. Applicants must repeatedly upload documents across multiple systems, including two IASS portals and separate OJAS platforms maintained by different recruitment agencies. Since these systems are not integrated with national certificate repositories, verification tasks multiply across departments, resulting in duplication and longer processing.
Manual scrutiny remains one of the most labour-intensive stages. Document checks move through four tiers of approval, culminating at the Joint Secretary level, while caste and category validations can take months due to limited digital authentication links. Recruitment panels processing hundreds of candidates per day still rely on physical records, leading to frequent disputes over forged or inconsistent documents. Together, these structural inefficiencies underscore the urgent need for stronger integration, improved digital infrastructure and a streamlined verification mechanism across Gujarat&rsquo;s hiring ecosystem.

Server overload and manual checks prolong recruitment cycles, GARC report reveals

Digital Gaps Slow Down Gujarat Hiring

Server overload and manual checks prolong recruitment cycles, GARC report reveals

December 5, 2025 | 19:16 IST