The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has rescheduled the PCS (Preliminary) Examination for December 22, after intense student protests. However, agitation continues as students demand that the Review Officer-Assistant Review Officer (RO-ARO) examination also be conducted in a single day and shift.

The PCS prelims will be held in two shifts on the same day, with the first session from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM and the second from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Initially scheduled for December 7 and 8, the exam was postponed following demonstrations by students who sought a one-day exam schedule.

Deadlock over RO-ARO exam schedule

Despite the announcement for PCS, a section of students remain dissatisfied as the commission has not provided clarity on the RO-ARO Preliminary Examination. Protesters stationed at Gate No. 2 of the UPPSC office have vowed to continue their demonstration until their demand for a single-day, single-shift RO-ARO exam is met.

“The commission has assured fairness through a high-level committee, but we need a written commitment that the RO-ARO exam will be held in one shift,” said one protester.

UPPSC officials argue that conducting the RO-ARO exam in one shift is logistically challenging due to the high number of candidates—over 10.7 lakh registered for the exam. Strict government directives limit the use of private or substandard centers, allowing only government-approved venues within a 20-km radius of district headquarters.

Even with the inclusion of universities, medical colleges, engineering institutions, and other government facilities, there are not enough centers to accommodate all candidates in a single shift.

As a solution, the UPPSC plans to conduct the RO-ARO exam over multiple days using a normalization process to ensure fairness in evaluation.

The decision has judicial backing; the Supreme Court upheld normalization in its January 2024 ruling in “Uttar Pradesh State and Others vs. Atul Kumar Dwivedi and Others”.

Omkar Nath Singh, Under Secretary of UPPSC, stated that a committee has been formed to ensure the RO-ARO selection process is transparent and fair. "The committee will analyze all aspects and submit its report soon," he added.

Students remain unconvinced, arguing that normalization introduces discrepancies and diminishes fairness. “We initiated this protest to ensure that both exams are conducted on the same terms. While the PCS exam will now be held in one day, the commission’s approach to RO-ARO remains unclear,” said a student leader.

“The ongoing protests and the unresolved RO-ARO schedule underscore the broader challenges faced by the commission in balancing logistical feasibility with fairness and student expectations. For now, the stalemate continues, with students determined to press their demands until a resolution is reached,” R K Mishra, a retired bureaucrat told this reporter.