Jubilee Post News & Views
- Reforms were made in response to demand of candidates: Official on new exam system
- Normalization system not new; widely used by prestigious recruitment bodies nationwide: Spokesman
- Supreme Court’s Radhakrishnan Committee recommends two-shift NEET Exam; Police Recruitment Exam also conducted in two shifts
- Exam Centers limited to verified institutions only, says official
Prayagraj . Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has said that maintaining exam integrity and ensuring candidate convenience are its top priorities. Addressing concerns raised by some candidates about the normalization process, a Commission spokesperson stated that, to uphold the sanctity of its examinations and safeguard students’ futures, exams are conducted exclusively at centers where the possibility of irregularities is entirely eliminated.
The spokesperson noted that in the past, various irregularities have surfaced at remote examination centers, creating uncertainty for deserving students. To prevent this and ensure a merit-based examination process, such centers have now been removed, he added.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Commission’s spokesperson announced that to ensure the integrity and quality of examinations, only government or funded educational institutions located within a 10 km radius of a bus stand, railway station, or treasury, and with no history of suspicion, controversy, or blacklisting, are being designated as examination centers. This arrangement has been implemented in response to candidate demands for maintaining exam purity and quality.
He added that to maintain the integrity and quality of examinations, it is essential to hold exams in multiple shifts when there are over 500,000 candidates. Consequently, the PCS (Preliminary) examination will be conducted over two days, on December 7 and 8, while the RO/ARO (Preliminary) Examination 2023 will be held in three shifts on December 22 and 23.
The spokesperson also clarified that when exams are held across multiple days or shifts for a single advertisement, the normalization process is essential for evaluating the results. This approach is commonly used by various prestigious recruitment bodies and commissions across the country, and it is supported by several rulings from the Hon’ble Court. The Radhakrishnan Committee, formed by the Supreme Court for the NEET exam, has also recommended conducting the exam in two shifts, and similarly, the Police Recruitment Examination was held in two shifts.
The Commission’s spokesperson stated that, as per the Supreme Court’s order dated November 7, if any aspect of the advertisement, recruitment, or selection process is not explicitly addressed, the concerned competent authority has the discretion to determine and implement the necessary administrative and procedural steps for shortlisting candidates. The Commission is following this process accordingly.
The spokesperson mentioned that the Commission has received a letter from candidates informing them that certain Telegram channels and YouTubers are conspiring to postpone the examination. These channels are spreading confusion about the normalization process and misleading candidates. However, many candidates, for whom both the examination and timing are crucial, have expressed support for the Commission’s decision, he remarked.
The spokesperson said that the government’s and the Commission’s primary goal is to safeguard students’ interests and ensure selection based on merit. The selection process has been designed with full transparency and in consideration of students’ best interests. Additionally, all necessary information is being provided to the candidates regarding the process.
● In the context of normalization, the Commission welcomes suggestions from candidates. Anyone with recommendations for improvement or a better system is encouraged to submit them. These suggestions will be reviewed by a committee of eminent experts, ensuring that the necessary purity and quality, in the best interest of the candidates, will be upheld.
● In the context of maintaining the purity of the examinations, candidates had strongly expressed that self-financed schools should not be designated as examination centers, and that the centers should not be located too far from the district headquarters. The Commission acknowledged the validity of the concern raised by the candidates.
