After widespread protests across Uttar Pradesh, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has decided to hold the Provincial Civil Services (PCS), Review Officer (RO), and Assistant Review Officer (ARO) preliminary exams on a single day.

This decision comes after several days of agitation against UPPSC's original plan to conduct the exams over two days. On the fourth day of the protests, police detained individuals who were believed to have disrupted the peaceful demonstrations led by students.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath acknowledged the students' concerns in Prayagraj and directed the UPPSC to address their demands. He urged the Commission to make necessary arrangements and engage with students to ensure smooth communication and coordination regarding the 2024 PCS Preliminary Examination.

In response, the UPPSC formed a committee to review all aspects of the RO/ARO (Pre.) Examination 2023. The committee will soon submit a detailed report for further consideration.

UPPSC Secretary Ashok Kumar clarified that the Commission's guidelines focused on using only government-run educational institutions as exam centers, with a requirement that these centers be located within 10 kilometers of the district headquarters. He also highlighted that after a previous exam paper leak, students requested that private institutions no longer be used as exam centers.

"While the students have protested, the guidelines were put in place after considering their previous requests," Kumar said. "With 5.76 lakh candidates registered for the PCS exam, but only enough centers for 4.35 lakh candidates across all 75 districts, conducting the exam over two days became a necessity."

Protesting students, gathered outside the UPPSC office, held placards with slogans demanding a resolution. One placard read, "Batenge Nahi, Hatnenge Nahi, Nyay Milne Tak Ek Rahenge" (We won't speak, we won't back down, we will stay united until we get justice), while another read, "Ek Din, Ek Pariksha" (One Day, One Exam).

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