UPPSC Bows to Protests: Two-Day Exam Plan Scrapped, One-Day Schedule Restored

The decision comes after four days of intense protests in Prayagraj, where hundreds of students clashed with police, demanding a fair and transparent evaluation process.

 

In a major victory for protesting students, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has withdrawn its earlier decision to conduct exams over two days in two shifts. The 'UPPCS Prelims 2024' will be held in a single day, and decision about 'RO/ARO Prelims 2023' will be taken soon, following widespread protests in Prayagraj and political pressure on the state government.

Student Agitation and Political Support

The decision comes after four days of intense protests in Prayagraj, where hundreds of students clashed with police, demanding a fair and transparent evaluation process. Demonstrators argued that the proposed two-day exam schedule, combined with a controversial normalization system, would jeopardize the fairness of the assessments. Reports of harsh police action, including the detention of 11 students and claims of female protestors being mishandled, further fueled public outrage.

Political leaders quickly rallied behind the students. Chandrashekhar Azad of the Azad Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav were among the prominent voices criticizing the government. Yadav took to social media, highlighting alleged police brutality, including an incident where a disabled protestor’s crutches were confiscated.

UPPSC and Government’s Response

Faced with escalating tensions, UPPSC and state authorities held urgent discussions. Despite earlier assurances about the robustness of the normalization formula, student demands for a uniform, one-day exam schedule have now been accepted. UPPSC's reversal is seen as a significant win for the student movement, but it has also raised questions about the Commission's planning and responsiveness.

As political leaders continue to monitor the situation, the Uttar Pradesh government is left grappling with the challenge of restoring credibility and ensuring smooth conduct of the revised exams.