In response to widespread protests by aspirants, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has agreed to conduct the upcoming Provincial Civil Services (PCS) Preliminary Examination 2024 in a single shift. The decision comes after students rallied in Prayagraj, demanding the change, citing concerns over the risk of paper leaks and varying difficulty levels in exams held across multiple shifts.
The announcement was made on Thursday following intervention by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who directed the UPPSC to address the students’ concerns. A statement from the Chief Minister’s office confirmed that a committee would also be formed to review the logistics of conducting the Review Officers/Assistant Review Officers (RO/ARO) Preliminary Examination 2023 in a single shift.“
The CM took cognizance of the demands raised by students in Prayagraj and instructed the Commission to coordinate with them and make necessary decisions regarding the PCS Preliminary Examination 2024,” the statement read. “A committee has been set up to evaluate the RO/ARO exam, considering all aspects, and it will submit a detailed report soon.”
However, despite the commission’s decision on the PCS prelims, protesting candidates have refused to call off their agitation. They have made it clear that their protest will continue until the UP government announces a similar decision for the RO/ARO examination, which was initially scheduled to be conducted across three shifts in late December.
The protests began after a UPPSC notification on November 5 outlined plans to conduct the PCS prelims in two shifts on December 7-8 and the RO/ARO exams in three shifts on December 22-23. Students in Prayagraj argued that conducting exams in multiple shifts increases the likelihood of paper leaks and unfair variations in the difficulty of the exams.
In defense of its original decision, UPPSC had stated that multiple shifts were necessary to maintain the integrity and sanctity of the exams. The commission assured that it would employ a “normalisation” process to evaluate the results fairly, despite the exams being held on different dates or in multiple shifts.
The ongoing protests in Prayagraj, where the UPPSC is headquartered, are a testament to the strong concerns among candidates regarding the proposed exam schedules. The outcome of the commission’s review process for the RO/ARO exam remains to be seen, with students vowing to continue their campaign for a fairer, more transparent examination system.
