UPPSC Exam Date Row: Aspirants' Protest In Prayagraj Enters Second Day, Demand Reforms In Exam Process

Aspirants in Prayagraj continue protests against UPPSC's scheduling of RO-ARO and PCS exams on different dates, demanding transparency in exam centers and score normalization.

Aspirants protest over govt exams schedules in multiple shift.

Source : PTI

Prayagraj: Aspirants protesting the UPPSC's decision to schedule the RO-ARO and PCS preliminary exams on separate dates continued their demonstration into a second day on Tuesday, as reported by news agency PTI. On Monday, the protesters gathered outside the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) headquarters, staging a sit-in as a substantial police force attempted to manage the crowd. A late-night meeting between the district magistrate and police commissioner ended without resolution. Many protesters stayed overnight, while others who went home returned Tuesday morning to resume their demonstration. Students held placards with slogans like, "We will not retreat; we will stay united until we get justice" and "One day, one exam."

In a statement issued on Monday, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) urged the UPPSC to address concerns about exam centers, score normalization, and conducting exams in two shifts. ABVP national secretary Ankit Shukla emphasized that all issues related to center allocation and score normalization should be handled with urgency to maintain transparency and fairness. Abhay Pratap Singh, ABVP secretary for the Kashi region, called on UPPSC to increase the number of districts for conducting exams and condemned the use of force against protestors, urging dialogue as the solution.

The UPPSC responded, emphasizing that it prioritizes maintaining exam integrity and convenience for candidates. Addressing concerns about the normalization process, a commission spokesperson stated that exams are now conducted only at centers free from irregularities, which were seen at remote exam sites in previous years. This measure aims to protect students' prospects by removing these centers to ensure a merit-based exam process.

According to the UPPSC, only government or funded educational institutions within a 10-km radius of a major transportation hub, and without a record of controversy or blacklisting, will serve as exam centers. This is in response to candidates' demands for transparency and exam purity. The spokesperson added that with over 500,000 candidates, the PCS preliminary exams will be held on December 7 and 8, while the RO-ARO preliminary exams are set for three shifts on December 22 and 23.