Students Protest for 'One Day, One Exam' Format as UPPSC Exams Approach

Students have been protesting for three days, demanding the Provincial Civil Service Preliminary Examination and Review Officer and Assistant Review Officer Preliminary Examinations be held on a single day. The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has scheduled these exams for December 7-8 and December 22-23, respectively. Despite fewer protesters than before, students remain determined to achieve their goal.

Protesters Demand Single-Day Exams

The students argue that holding exams over two days is unfair and insist on reverting to the previous one-day format. They have been vocal about their demands, organising candle marches to express their dissatisfaction. "We will continue the agitation for one day, one exam," said Pratyush Singh, a protester outside the UPPSC office.

Placards carried by the students conveyed strong messages of unity and determination. One read, "We will not divide, we will not retreat, we will remain united until we get justice," while another stated, "One day, One examination." These slogans reflect their unwavering stance against the current exam schedule.

UPPSC's Response to Protests

UPPSC Secretary Ashok Kumar explained that the commission's policy is to use only government educational institutions as exam centres. These centres are within a 10-km radius of district headquarters. Kumar noted that students had previously demanded private institutions not be used after a paper leak incident.

Kumar further elaborated on the logistical challenges faced by UPPSC. Out of 5,76,000 registered candidates for the PCS examination, there are only enough centres for 4,35,000 candidates across all 75 districts. This limitation necessitates conducting the exams over two days to accommodate everyone.

Gyanendra Kumar, another student protester, expressed their resolve: "Until our demands are met, we will continue the protest, whether it lasts for a week or many weeks." The students' persistence highlights their commitment to achieving a single-day exam format despite UPPSC's explanations.

The ongoing protests underscore the tension between student demands and logistical constraints faced by UPPSC. As both sides hold firm in their positions, it remains uncertain how this situation will be resolved. However, the students' determination suggests they are prepared for a prolonged struggle if necessary.