UPPSC Aspirants Demand Unified Exam Dates and Rollback of Normalisation Methods (All images via X)
UPPSC Protest: Thousands of aspirants preparing for competitive exams under the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) staged a protest outside the Commission's office in Prayagraj on Monday. They demanded that the Review Officer and Assistant Review Officer (RO-ARO) and Provincial Civil Services (PCS) preliminary exams be conducted on the same day to avoid potential confusion and ensure fairness.
The UPPSC recently announced that the
RO-ARO exams
will be held in three shifts on December 22 and 23, while the
PCS preliminary exams
are scheduled for December 7 and 8 in two shifts.
The protest saw a powerful show of unity among students, with several rallying cries and slogans shared both at the protest site and online. One student posted that they would "not back down until their demands are met."
Some students criticised the government’s perceived inconsistency in policy, pointing out that while "the government advocates 'one nation, one election' for convenience, it hesitates to apply a similar principle of 'one exam, one day.'" These comments reflect a belief among students that a single-day exam format would ensure greater fairness.
Candidates voice dissatisfaction with exam schedule
The UPPSC’s decision to hold these exams on separate dates has sparked widespread discontent among students. They argue that conducting different exams on separate days is an unusual deviation from traditional practices and may create unnecessary stress. Many students took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to voice their frustrations, with some users pointing out that the recent schedule change contradicts norms and even a Supreme Court verdict on the matter.
An aspirant highlighted the tense situation, describing how "thousands of candidates clashed with the police in Prayagraj," as they pressed their demands at the UPPSC office. This sentiment of unrest captured the scale of the demonstration, with students challenging authorities for a more fair and unified exam schedule.
Holding placards and raising slogans, protestors rallied outside the UPPSC office asking that the PCS and RO/ARO exams should be conducted on the same day.
Many students argue that dividing the exams over multiple days could lead to normalisation issues and unfair scoring disparities. Pamphlets distributed by the students bore the slogan "na batenge na hatenge" (we will neither divide nor retreat), calling for a consolidated exam schedule.
With nearly 8000 students, protest site saw heavy police deployment
The protest saw a heavy police deployment, including paramilitary forces, as nearly 8,000 students gathered at the site, media reports suggest. The police attempted to control the crowd, but students broke through barricades and surged towards the UPPSC gate. Although the police reportedly used "mild force" to manage the crowd, Deputy Commissioner of Police Abhishek Bharti stated that the students were protesting peacefully and denied the use of aggressive force, as per various media reports.
Appeals for a single-shift exam and no normalisation
The introduction of normalisation, as well as arbitrary changes in the exam schedule, has unsettled many aspirants. Aspirants have come to believe that these adjustments undermine the established examination pattern and are calling on the UPPSC to revert to the traditional single-day exam structure.
Others voiced their frustration over what they see as high-handed tactics, accusing the authorities of "suppressing student voices" and using force to disperse peaceful demonstrators. Students reiterated their unity with chants of "student unity will prevail," making it clear that they will stand firm in pursuit of their demands.
As protests continue and calls for change intensify, students await a response from UPPSC officials.