Will not divide, will not move away, will remain united till justice is given… Why is the demonstration of UPPSC candidates continuing in Prayagraj for the last three days?

Students in Prayagraj have been protesting for the past several days against the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) after it announced its decision to conduct the RO-ARO and PCS preliminary exams on two different dates. Students are demanding withdrawal of UPPSC’s old practice of conducting the examination on a single day. The protesters first staged a sit-in at the UPPSC headquarters on Monday against the announcement, even as a large number of police personnel tried to disperse them.

Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission aspirants in Prayagraj are demanding that the Review Officer and Assistant Review Officer (RO-ARO) and Provincial Civil Services (PCS) preliminary examinations be conducted on the same day to avoid possible confusion and ensure fairness. . The protests started after the Commission announced on November 5 to conduct the said examinations in different shifts on different days. According to the notice, the Review Officer and Assistant Review Officer (RO-ARO) preliminary exam will be conducted on December 22 and 23 in three shifts and the Provincial Civil Services (PCS) preliminary exam will be conducted on December 7 and 8 in two shifts.

The examination schedule has angered students and has been largely criticized by candidates, who are now holding dharnas and candle marches in protest against the commission. Most of the protesters, including women, spent the night under the open sky, while those who had gone home returned in the morning to join the agitation at the Commission gate. Earlier on Wednesday, students gathered outside Gate No. 2 of UPPSC office in Prayagraj and raised slogans regarding their demands. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Police has registered an FIR against 12 persons for vandalism during protests demanding holding of Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) examinations in a single shift.

Sources reveal that after unsuccessful discussions with officials last night, the students are adamant on their demands. They are mobilizing more supporters, expecting a huge turnout on Wednesday. Armed with biscuits and other supplies, they have pledged to continue their peaceful protest until their concerns are acknowledged.

The Commission had issued a statement saying, “In order to protect the sanctity of the examinations and the future of the students, the examinations are being conducted only at those centers where there is no possibility of any kind of irregularities. In the past, many types of irregularities have come to notice in remote examination centres, to eliminate which these centers have been removed.” The students sitting on dharna in front of the Public Service Commission gate were carrying placards with different slogans in their hands, in which it was written, “We will not divide, we will not move, we will remain united till we get justice”, while in others it was written, “One day, one.” Examination”.