The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) is facing protests from candidates over its decision to conduct the PCS Prelims 2024 and RO/ARO Prelims 2023 over two days and two shifts. Candidates have been vocal against this format even before the exam dates were announced, intensifying their demonstrations on November 11 with plans for an indefinite sit-in protest at UPPSC’s Gate No. 2.
Candidate Concerns
Pratima Singh, a competitive exam aspirant from Prayagraj, emphasized the anxiety caused by the new format. She and other candidates argue that holding the exams on the same day and in the same shift is essential to ensure fairness. They demand that the commission reverse this decision, warning that their protests will continue until their concerns are addressed.
Exam Schedule and Normalisation Policy
The UPPSC has scheduled the PCS Prelims for December 7 and 8, with exams held in two shifts. The RO/ARO Prelims will follow on December 22 and 23, also split into two shifts. Alongside the format change, candidates are protesting the commission’s decision to introduce a normalisation policy. This policy, which adjusts scores to account for varying difficulty levels across different shifts, has been met with resistance. Candidates claim the policy may lead to unfair results and increased corruption. Furthermore, they argue that the original exam advertisement did not mention normalisation, making its introduction a breach of the stated terms.
Legal Concerns
Citing a recent Supreme Court ruling, candidates argue that changing exam regulations mid-process is unlawful. They believe that applying normalisation to the current recruitment exams for PCS and RO/ARO goes against this directive. If the commission does not reverse its decision, candidates warn that they are prepared to escalate the matter to the courts.
The situation remains tense as candidates await a response from the UPPSC, hoping for adjustments that will address their concerns and align with previous court rulings.
