Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has proposed a national entrance examination for an 'All India and Central Services' for Class XII students on the pattern of NDA, IIT and medical colleges.

The government will post this proposal on the Department of Personnel and Training's Web site --http://www.persmin.nic.in/dopt/index.html -- for suggestions and debate.

The feedback will then be put up to the new Administrative Reforms Commission, which the PM will head.

At present, civil servants are chosen from graduate candidates who apply for the UPSC examination.

Under the new system, Class XII students who pass the test will join a national academy for a two-part five-year course.

At the end of three years, a graduate degree will be given to those clearing the normal exams.

The best candidates will be absorbed in different services, while the laggards will be able to go out into the market with their graduation degrees.

The remaining candidates with their service allotments will then go in for a two-year service specific course.

The candidates will be further subjected to annual examination during these two years and from among these, students will be selected for a further service-specific course for another two years leading to a degree equivalent to MBA.

Those not found up to the mark will be released with their MBA-equivalent degrees. The rest will become civil servants.