UPPSC Normalization Process: Students’ Protests and Commission’s Stand Explained

UPPSC Normalization Process: Students’ Protests and Commission’s Stand Explained

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ABHAY
ABHAY ANAND
Manager Editorial
New Delhi, Updated on Nov 13, 2024 17:12 IST

UPPSC Defends Normalization Amid Protests, Confirms Exam Dates and Urges Focus on Preparation

Competitive students have been agitating for several days over the upcoming UPPSC PCS 2024 and RO/ARO Recruitment 2023 preliminary examinations. Their demands include abolishing the normalization system and conducting the exams on the same day to ensure fairness. The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has since issued a statement addressing these grievances, emphasizing the importance of the current system.

Key Highlights

Exam Dates Confirmed: UPPSC PCS prelims on December 7-8; RO/ARO on December 22-23.

Normalization System Explained: Commission defends its fairness and clarity.

Commission’s Advice: Candidates urged to avoid misleading information and focus on preparation.

Understanding the Normalization System

The normalization system is used when exams are conducted in multiple shifts over different days, with varying difficulty levels of question papers. To ensure fairness, the performance of candidates is standardized. The system uses a statistical formula to adjust scores, ensuring that no candidate is disadvantaged or favored due to the difficulty of their paper. This formula calculates the percentage score based on the marks obtained and the distribution of scores among all candidates in a specific shift.

How It Works: The percentage score is determined by taking the number of candidates who scored equal to or less than a candidate's marks, dividing this by the total number of candidates in the same shift, and multiplying by 100. This method ensures a level playing field across different shifts.

Scheduled Exam Dates

PCS Preliminary Exam: December 7-8, conducted in two shifts (9:30 AM – 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM) across 41 districts.

RO/ARO Preliminary Exam: December 22-23, also in two shifts.

Despite the ongoing protests, UPPSC has reaffirmed that these exams will proceed as scheduled, with all arrangements made to ensure the integrity and transparency of the process.

Commission’s Statement on Normalization

UPPSC Secretary Ashok Kumar issued a detailed response to address candidates' concerns. He emphasized that the normalization formula is the outcome of a high-level committee's work, chaired by the former Chief Statistician of India. The process is computer-based, designed to be robust and unbiased.

He also warned candidates against misinformation being spread by certain groups, including coaching centers and online influencers. The Commission claimed these entities aim to mislead students, creating unnecessary confusion about the exam process and the normalization system. Kumar urged students to remain focused on their studies and trust the transparency of the Commission’s methods.

Q:   What is the new date for UPPSC PCS 2024 prelims exam?

A:

The UPPSC will conduct the UPPCS Prelims exam 2024 on December 22, 2024. The Commission bowed to the demands of the students to conduct the exam on a single day instead of two.

The UPPSC admit card 2024 will be released soon. The UPPSC Prelims exam 2024 will be conducted in all the districts of the state. 

Q:   How many exam centres are there in UPPSC Prelims exam 2024?

A:

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission is planning to conduct the UPPSC Prelims exam 2024 in 41 districts of the state. There are 75 districts in the State. Last year, the UPPSC PCS prelims exam was conducted in 51 districts. Earlier the UPPSC prelims exam was conducted in around 25 cities in the state. 

The UPPSC 2024 prelims exam will be conducted on December 7 & 8, 2024. The Commission is expected to release the UPPSC 2024 admit card on November 27, 2024 in its official website - uppsc.up.nic.in.

Q:   Is the UPPSC PCS Prelims 2024 Exam postponed?

A:

Yes, the UPPSC PCS prelims 2024 has been postponed again. The UPPSC PCS prelims 2024 is expected to be conducted in December 2024.

It was postponed twice before this. The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission released a notice on March 7, 2024 that the UPPSC 2024 prelims exam will not be conducted in March 17, 2024. The Commission mentioned that the UPPCS prelims 2024 stands postponed due to some unavoidable circumstances. 

The UPPSC prelims 2024 was schedule for October 27, 2024 but it was postponed.

Background of the Controversy

The discontent surrounding UPPSC exams isn’t new. On January 1, 2024, the Commission announced the PCS prelims, originally scheduled for March 17. However, repeated postponements due to logistical challenges and controversies, such as paper leaks and protests, have fueled dissatisfaction among candidates. Most notably, the RO/ARO exam scheduled for February faced cancellation after reports of question paper leaks, leading to widespread protests and a government-ordered investigation.

The Commission clarified that this year's PCS prelims had to be split into two days due to a shortage of suitable exam centers. With over 5.76 lakh candidates registered, the available 978 centers across 75 districts did not suffice, necessitating a multi-day schedule as per government guidelines. Similarly, over 10.76 lakh candidates are set to appear for the RO/ARO exam across three shifts on December 22-23.

Security Measures for Exam Integrity

To maintain exam sanctity, UPPSC has promised strict security and monitoring at centers. Exams will only be held at locations deemed secure and free from any risk of malpractice. The Commission emphasized that it’s committed to conducting fair and unbiased exams while considering the candidates' future and the overall transparency of the recruitment process.

Commission’s Appeal to Candidates

The UPPSC spokesperson also revealed that some groups are lobbying for exam postponements, using platforms like Telegram and YouTube to spread misinformation. In response, many candidates have expressed support for the Commission’s measures, acknowledging the need to proceed without further delays.

The statement also called attention to the importance of focusing on preparation, given the highly competitive nature of these exams. With only weeks left before the prelims, UPPSC hopes to quell unrest and restore candidate confidence in the exam process.

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About the Author
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ABHAY ANAND
Manager Editorial

Abhay an alumnus of IIMC and Delhi University, has over a decade long experience of reporting on various beats of journalism. During his free time he prefers listening to music or play indoor and outdoor games.

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