Engineering graduates queue for cycle test to become peon

Many B.Tech graduates queued up to apply for the role of a 'government office peon' in Kerala's Ernakulam district, which offers an average monthly salary of Rs 23,000.

Every year, numerous individuals with engineering and other college degrees queue up to take the bicycle test administered by Kerala's Public Service Commission (PSC).

This situation remained unchanged in the past two days, with a considerable number of degree holders waiting with their bicycles at various testing centres throughout the state.

In Kerala, government peon positions are highly sought after by individuals with degrees, mainly because of the attractive job security and pension benefits they offer. Government positions offer the stability, benefits, and post-retirement pensions that individuals seek, making them more attractive than jobs in the gig economy.

While the official requirements for this role mandate only a 7th-grade education and the ability to ride a bicycle, Candidates should not possess a bachelor's degree when applying for the job, even though many degree holders participate in these tests.

The consistent high demand for government positions in the state spans several decades and can be attributed to these very advantages.

The initial salary for a peon in these government roles stands at approximately Rs 23,000. Those who passed the initial screening were summoned for the cycling test, which took place on October 26 and 27.

According to an official from the PSC office, "Many of these applicants may have originally applied for the position before attaining a degree. They are required to declare that they didn't possess a degree at the time of application. However, the times have changed, and it's increasingly rare to find people in the state without a degree."

Following the cycling test, the next phase involves an endurance test. It's worth noting that Kerala has one of the highest numbers of job seekers in the country.

Cycling tests used to be a requirement for various job profiles within the 'last grade servants' category, but the government abolished this rule approximately a decade ago. Currently, the test is only mandatory for office associate positions, with exemptions for women and physically handicapped candidates.