UPPSC Exam Schedule Sparks Protests For Single-Shift Testing System

Protestors gathered for another day outside the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) office, continuing their call for the PCS and RO/ARO exams to occur in just one shift on the same day. This demand comes in the wake of the UPPSC's announcement of the new exam schedule, which has preliminaries set over multiple days and shifts—PCS exams on December 7 and 8 and the RO and ARO Preliminary Exam 2023 on December 22 and 23, across three shifts.

Ankit Patel, a front-runner in the protests, shared with PTI that the aspirants are keen on reverting to the previous single-shift system. Manorama Singh, another protester, emphasized that spreading the exams over two days goes against the norms. Singh articulated, "The notification didn't specify that exams would span two days. Students want them completed in a single day," highlighting the students' dissatisfaction with the new schedule.

The examination authority has defended its scheduling decision, emphasizing that candidate convenience and the integrity of the examination process are paramount. A spokesperson from the Commission explained that to ensure a fair examination environment and safeguard the students' futures, exams need to be conducted in centers where misconduct or irregularities are unlikely. This has led to the necessity of multiple shifts when the candidate count exceeds 500,000. The spokesperson also pointed out that for exams conducted over several days, a normalization process is essential for accurately assessing results.

Furthermore, the UPPSC mentioned it has come across instances of misinformation regarding the exam schedule being spread through Telegram channels and YouTube, which has compounded the confusion among aspirants. The Commission's spokesperson referenced the Supreme Court’s Radhakrishnan Committee recommendation for conducting the NEET exam in two shifts and noted a similar approach was taken for the Police Recruitment Exam to underline the precedence and necessity of their decision.

In a recent declaration, the UPPSC underlined its commitment to organizing exams that are both fair and of high quality. This statement was made in the context of the ongoing protests and is aimed at clarifying the Commission’s stance on the issue. To maintain the sanctity of the examination process and ensure equitable conditions for all candidates, the spokesperson emphasized the critical role of conducting exams in multiple shifts and the subsequent normalization process for multi-day exams. This approach, as per the Commission, is in line with recommendations from authoritative bodies and past practices in other significant examinations.