UPPSC Exam Chaos: Thousands of Students Clash with Police in Prayagraj Over Shifted Exam Dates

Students demand single-day, single-shift exams for UPPSC PCS and RO/ARO prelims, protesting against multi-shift scheduling they claim could lead to unfair normalization and bias.

Thousands of Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) aspirants gathered in Prayagraj today, protesting against the Commission’s decision to hold the PCS Prelims and Review Officer/Assistant Review Officer (RO/ARO) exams on different dates and in multiple shifts. The students are demanding that the exams be conducted in a single shift on the same day.

Tensions escalated when police prevented students from holding a sit-in outside the UPPSC office, leading the protesters to gather at a nearby intersection. Clashes ensued between the students and the police, prompting law enforcement to resort to lathi charges to disperse the crowd. The situation turned chaotic as students, including a significant number of women candidates, were caught in a stampede during the crackdown.

Akhilesh Yadav Supports Protestors

The protest gained political traction as former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, also the President of the Samajwadi Party, extended his party's support to the aspirants. Yadav accused the BJP government of deliberately creating obstacles to delay recruitment and keep youth unemployed. He called the multi-shift examination scheduling a form of "cheating" and alleged that it was part of a broader strategy to benefit political profiteers.

"The BJP's aim is to prevent youth from securing government jobs, forcing them into low-wage labor while filling its coffers through electoral donations," Yadav stated, adding that the aspirants were fighting against a systemic conspiracy.

Exams Scheduled for December, Amid Controversy

The UPPSC had announced the schedule for the exams on November 5. The PCS prelims are set for December 7 and 8, while the RO/ARO exams will be held on December 22 and 23. The exams will be conducted in multiple shifts due to a shortage of suitable examination centers across the state, according to the Commission. However, students argue that the decision to conduct the exams on different days and in varying shifts could lead to an unfair normalization process, disadvantaging strong candidates.

"With easier questions in one shift and tougher ones in another, the normalization process will unfairly affect good students," said Ramakant Yadav, an aspirant and protest leader.

Heavy Police Deployment and Further Protests Expected

In response to the growing unrest, heavy police forces have been deployed around the UPPSC office, with barricades set up on all major roads leading to the commission. Despite the crackdown, the protesters, including students from neighboring states such as Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar, are resolute in their demands for a unified exam schedule.

The protests have gone viral on social media, with hashtags like #UPPSC_ROARO_OneShift trending on Twitter, highlighting the widespread discontent. As the situation continues to unfold, students remain firm in their stance, calling for the UPPSC to reconsider its scheduling decision.

Commission's Stance

Despite the mounting pressure, the UPPSC has maintained that the decision to conduct exams on different days and in multiple shifts is necessary due to logistical constraints. The Commission clarified that the prelims are screening tests and will not affect the final merit rankings, though students remain unconvinced.

The protests show no signs of slowing down, with students pledging to continue their demonstrations until their demands are met.