UPPSC candidates continue protest over exam irregularities, demand single-shift exams for fair evaluation

In Prayagraj, UPPSC candidates staged a large protest on Monday at the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) headquarters, demanding that the upcoming PCS (preliminary) and RO/ARO exams be conducted in a single shift. The protest, involving a large crowd outside gate number 2 of the UPPSC office, continued into Tuesday. Candidates are primarily opposing the Commission’s use of multi-shift exams and the normalization formula, which they argue affects grading fairness and disadvantages candidates.

A UPPSC spokesperson responded to the protest, assuring candidates of the Commission’s commitment to maintaining exam integrity. They acknowledged that irregularities had previously been reported at remote centers, causing disruptions for students. In response, the Commission has removed these centers and now holds exams exclusively at select locations. "To uphold the sanctity of our examinations and safeguard students' futures, we only use centers where irregularities are entirely eliminated," stated the spokesperson. This includes centers within a 10-kilometer radius of major transit points such as bus stations and railway stations.

Late Monday night, UPPSC Secretary Ashok Kumar, along with District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar, Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, and Police Commissioner Tarun Gauba, met with the protestors in an attempt to resolve the issue. Officials informed candidates that the shift-based examination and normalization formula were implemented for logistical reasons and that the changes were intended to benefit students by enhancing examination reliability. However, candidates remained unsatisfied, continuing their demands for a single-shift examination system and rejecting the normalization process.

On Tuesday, District Magistrate Mandar returned to the site to speak with candidates, but efforts to defuse the protest were unsuccessful. Some protestors defaced gate number 2 with spray paint, writing “loot seva aayog,” and posted signs accusing the Commission of unfair practices. In addition to UPPSC candidates, representatives from the Samajwadi Chatra Sabha, the student wing of the Samajwadi Party, and the National Student Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress Party, joined the demonstration, adding to the protest's intensity.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav also weighed in on the situation. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Yadav criticized the state government, calling the situation a "Yogi vs students" issue and questioning if authorities would resort to forceful measures. He accused the government of neglecting employment issues and delaying exams, which, he claimed, had led to widespread frustration among students. UPPSC reiterated that its changes aim to protect exam purity and candidates' interests by holding exams at vetted, accessible locations to prevent any potential irregularities.