Massive protest in Prayagraj: UPPSC aspirants demand answers

Students in Prayagraj are protesting against the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) over its decision to hold the RO-ARO and PCS preliminary exams on separate dates. The aspirants are demanding that the exams be conducted on a single day, as was previously done.

The protest began after UPPSC announced that the Review Officer and Assistant Review Officer (RO-ARO) exams would be held on December 22 and 23 in three shifts, while the Provincial Civil Services (PCS) exam would take place on December 7 and 8 in two shifts. This scheduling has sparked outrage among students, who fear confusion and an unfair advantage for some candidates.

On Monday, protesters staged a sit-in at the UPPSC headquarters, despite a heavy police presence. The students, many of whom stayed overnight in the open, are voicing their anger with slogans like “One day, one exam” and “We will not retreat until we get justice.” Some even carried an effigy of UPPSC Chairman Sanjay Shrinet during the protest.

The students argue that holding the exams on different days will create logistical challenges and result in unfair circumstances. Protesters say the decision undermines the integrity of the process and could cause confusion among candidates. They have organized candle marches and demonstrations to demand a rollback of the exam schedule.

The local authorities, including the district magistrate and police commissioner, held a meeting on Monday to discuss the protest and its demands, but no solution has been reached. UPPSC Secretary Ashok Kumar defended the commission’s decision, citing logistical reasons.

He explained that only government institutions within a 10-km radius of district headquarters are used as exam centers, and with 576,000 candidates registered for the PCS exam, spreading the exams over two days is necessary. Kumar added that the commission had previously faced criticism for using private institutions as exam centers, due to concerns about security and paper leaks.

As the protest continues, students remain determined to have their voices heard, demanding a fair and unified exam schedule.