Prayagraj, 14 November 2024: The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) today announced a shift in its exam scheduling strategy, aiming to address the growing student protests in Prayagraj.
In response to the uproar, the commission declared that the Provincial Civil Service (PCS) prelims will now be conducted in a single shift. Additionally, a committee will be formed to evaluate the feasibility of holding the review officer (RO) and assistant review officer (ARO) exams in a similar format.
However, this move did little to quell the anger among students. Protesters, who have gathered in large numbers outside the UPPSC office, accused the commission of attempting to disperse the demonstrations without addressing their primary concern. “We won’t back down until they ensure the RO/ARO exam is held in one shift,” a student protester asserted, highlighting the collective demand for a “one day, one shift” examination schedule.
The agitation stems from the commission’s earlier plan to conduct these exams over multiple shifts across two days. Students fear that staggered exam schedules increase the risk of paper leaks, a concern rooted in past incidents. They insist that a single-day, single-shift exam format would mitigate this risk and ensure fairness.
A UPPSC spokesperson defended the initial decision, explaining it was meant to uphold the integrity of the exam process. “We chose to hold exams in shifts to accommodate the large number of candidates and to prevent irregularities. Only vetted, government or funded institutions close to public transport hubs are designated as centers, reducing chances of malpractice,” the spokesperson stated.
The commission also emphasized the use of a normalization process for evaluating scores across different shifts, a common practice in competitive exams nationwide. This method, they noted, has judicial backing and is designed to maintain score parity despite varying exam conditions.
Despite these assurances, students intensified their protest, leading to a tense standoff at the commission’s Prayagraj office. In an apparent bid to defuse the situation, top officials, reportedly after intervention from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, revised their stance, opting for a single-day PCS exam.
Yet, the students remain unsatisfied. “The government’s decision feels like a half-measure. They’ve met one demand but ignored the other,” a protester stated, voicing skepticism over the verbal nature of the announcement. Many demanded a formal notification to confirm the changes for both the PCS and RO/ARO exams before halting their protest.
Political dynamics add another layer to the unfolding situation. With bypolls for nine Assembly constituencies scheduled for November 20, opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and Congress have seized on the protests to challenge the ruling BJP. Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party leader, criticized the state government’s handling of the issue. “The demands of the students are fair, and it would be wise for the government to listen to them, if only to avoid political fallout,” Yadav remarked.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condemned the UPPSC’s approach, calling it “insensitive” and blaming the BJP for the ongoing crisis. “Why should the students bear the brunt of the government’s inefficiency?” he questioned, echoing the frustration felt by the protestors.
Facing mounting pressure, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya called for swift resolution, urging officials to engage with the students’ concerns earnestly. “Our priority should be to ensure students focus on their preparation rather than protests. We need a prompt, fair solution,” Maurya said, signaling the government’s intent to address the unrest.
As the protest continues, the UPPSC’s decision appears insufficient in addressing the demands of the student body. The unfolding scenario not only tests the commission’s resolve but also puts the Adityanath administration in a precarious position, with political implications looming ahead of the upcoming bypolls. The students, backed by political voices, remain steadfast, indicating that the agitation is far from over.
