Prayagraj (UP): In the wake of escalating protests by students in Prayagraj, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission has resolved to conduct an important recruitment exam in one shift. Although the preliminary Provincial Civil Service (PCS) exam will take place in a single day, the commission has formed a committee to explore ways to conduct the exam for review officers and assistant review officers.
However, this decision has not appeased the protesting students, who accuse the state service commission of attempting to undermine their protests. They insist they will persist with their demonstrations until the government commits to conducting the RO/ARO exam in a single shift.
The students have been voicing their opposition to the commission’s prior plan to hold the two exams over two days in two shifts. They are calling for “one day, one shift” exams, expressing concerns that multiple dates and shifts could lead to paper leaks.
Previously, the commission explained that scheduling exams in shifts was intended to benefit the applicants and maintain the integrity of the exam. A spokesperson stated that the exams would be held only in venues with minimized risks of irregularities. The designated exam centers must be government or funded educational institutions within a 10-km radius of major transport hubs and free from any history of misconduct. Thus, conducting the exams in shifts was deemed necessary.
Additionally, the spokesperson mentioned a normalization process would be utilized for evaluating results due to the multiple exam days or shifts, a method commonly employed across the country and backed by legal precedents.
Yet the students remain unconvinced and have intensified their protests, leading to turmoil outside the state commission’s office in Prayagraj. Following a meeting among top officials, the latest announcement was adopted, reportedly influenced by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The students have dismissed this response. One protestor stated, “The government is misleading us. We will not leave until they confirm that the RO/ARO exam will also be held in one day, one shift. We have two demands, and they have only met one.”
Some students argued that it is merely a verbal commitment at this stage and will not cease protests until an official notice regarding both exams is issued. “We want both exams in a single shift. What is the need for a committee? They just want to disperse us and weaken our movement,” another protester remarked.
As protests continued, one participant criticized the BJP government, while others expressed a desire to keep party politics out of their movement.
Political Context
The commission’s decision comes amid significant protests against a political backdrop, with by-elections for nine Assembly constituencies scheduled for November 20. The opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and Congress, are leveraging the Prayagraj protests to criticize the Yogi Adityanath government.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav urged the “callous” government to heed the students’ reasonable demands, especially in light of political ramifications. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, condemned the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission’s “unfortunate” and “insensitive” behavior, questioning why students should suffer due to the government’s inefficiencies.
The Yogi Adityanath administration aims to address the protests effectively to prevent further escalation. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has called for prompt resolution: “All responsible officials should listen to the students’ needs attentively and expedite a solution to ensure their time is focused on preparation, not protests.”
