UPPSC bows to pressure, reverts to single-shift exams amid student protests

After four days of intense protests by several thousand students, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has decided to roll back its earlier plan to conduct the PCS (Provincial Civil Services) preliminary exams over two shifts, now agreeing to hold the exam in a single day, following the traditional one-shift pattern.

- BISWAJEET BANERJEE

The announcement brought relief to thousands of candidates who had gathered outside the UPPSC office in Prayagraj, demanding a return to the old format due to fears over inconsistencies in the proposed normalization process. The Review Officer/Assistant Review Officer (RO/ARO) exam, scheduled for December 22-23, has also been deferred, with UPPSC setting up a special committee to evaluate fair practices for this exam.

UPPSC Secretary Ashok Kumar emerged from the commission office on Thursday to address the students, declaring. "The preliminary examination will be conducted in one shift. As for the RO/ARO Examination-2023, a committee will examine all factors and submit a comprehensive report.

We will take a decision on the exam format based on their findings." His words confirmed that the commission was formally rescinding the two-shift approach for now.