A Step Towards Smarter Governance
I recently came across the news that the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will now allow candidates for the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSLE) 2025 exam to choose their own exam city, date, and shift (SSC CHSL 2025: Candidates can now choose exam city, date and shift for CBT from 12 November). On the surface, this is a simple logistical update. However, I see it as something far more significant: a move towards a more intelligent, user-centric system within our public institutions.
For years, millions of young aspirants have been at the mercy of randomly allocated examination schedules. This seemingly small detail adds immense logistical and psychological stress—arranging travel, accommodation, and aligning personal schedules, all while under the pressure of preparing for a life-changing exam. By handing this control back to the candidates, the SSC is not just offering convenience; it is acknowledging the individual and designing a system that serves them, rather than forcing them to conform to its rigidities.
The Echo of System Design
This development resonates deeply with a principle I constantly explore in my own work: the deliberate and continuous improvement of systems. The core idea I want to convey is this — for a long time, I have been focused on how we can refine processes to make them more efficient and intuitive. Whether it's developing my own 'Blog Genie' to streamline content creation or exploring ways to reverse-engineer processes for better outcomes, the goal is always the same: to build systems that are responsive and intelligent. I've often discussed with my team how the tools we build should be designed for precision and ease, as reflected in my feedback on our internal projects (Blog Genie Feedback).
Seeing a government body implement a change based on this very principle is heartening. It demonstrates an understanding that technology's true power lies not just in automation, but in its ability to create more humane and flexible frameworks. This move by the SSC shows a small but powerful shift in mindset from bureaucratic enforcement to user empowerment.
This isn't just about scheduling an exam. It's a lesson in empathy at scale. It's about recognizing that reducing a candidate's logistical burden allows them to focus their finite energy on what truly matters: their performance. It's a small change with a massive, positive ripple effect on the mental state of countless individuals.
My hope is that this is just the beginning. I urge other public service commissions and government bodies to take note. Let this be a catalyst for a broader re-evaluation of legacy systems. Let's ask ourselves: how can we leverage technology not just for the sake of digitization, but to build processes that are fundamentally more respectful of the people they are meant to serve?
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
No comments:
Post a Comment