UPPSC Responds to Aspirants by Postponing RO and ARO Exams, Confirms Single-Day PCS Preliminary Exam

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has postponed the Review Officer (RO) and Assistant Review Officer (ARO) exams following protests by candidates. The Provincial Civil Services (PCS) Preliminary Exam-2024 will now be conducted on the old pattern in a single day. This decision, influenced by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, aims to address concerns about transparency and fairness in the examination process.

Exam Transparency and Fairness

The UPPSC has also announced the formation of a committee to ensure transparency in the RO and ARO exams. The committee will examine all aspects of these exams and submit a report soon. This move comes after recent incidents of paper leaks across the country, prompting the government to prioritise the integrity of selection examinations.Candidates preparing for the PCS exam have welcomed the decision to hold it on a single day. This change is expected to boost confidence in the fairness of the examination process. However, those preparing for the RO and ARO exams remain disappointed and continue their protests, demanding similar treatment for their exams.

Protests and Demands

Aspirants like Rahul Pandey and Yogesh Singh have expressed distrust in verbal announcements made outside the UPPSC office. They insist on an official notice being uploaded on the Commission's website before ending their protest. The protesters argue that conducting both exams on a single day would ensure fairness.Deputy Chief Ministers Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya have assured students that decisions will be made in their interest. They emphasised that normalisation would be stopped, and exams would be conducted in one shift on one day, aligning with student demands.

Political Reactions

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav criticised the BJP government for its handling of the situation. He accused them of stepping back only after realising potential electoral losses. Yadav questioned why both exams couldn't be held on a single day if one could be managed.The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) welcomed the decision but urged for a swift resolution regarding the RO/ARO exams. ABVP activists stand with candidates advocating for fairness and transparency in these exams. Abhay Pratap Singh from ABVP Kashi region called this decision a victory for candidates.Dinesh Dwivedi, a PCS exam aspirant, noted that conducting RO and ARO exams on a single day would be challenging due to over 10 lakh expected candidates. This logistical challenge likely led to their postponement. Aspirant Madhu Yadav echoed these concerns, urging for a timely decision on these exams.The UPPSC had initially scheduled December 7 and 8 for the PCS preliminary exam, while December 22 and 23 were set for the RO and ARO preliminary exams. The government's decision to conduct the PCS exam on a single day has been met with mixed reactions from candidates preparing for different exams.