UPPSC RO/ARO Paper Leak: UPPSC had recommended to stop internet service, not enough jammers were available

Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) had sent a recommendation to the government to keep the internet service closed during the Review Officer (RO)/Assistant Review Officer (ARO) Preliminary Examination-2023. However, the Commission's proposal was not accepted. The Commission had to send the proposal because due to the large number of examination centres, sufficient number of jammers could not be made available.

Earlier, the Commission had issued advertisement for RO/ARO recruitment in the year 2021, in which 559155 candidates had applied for 354 posts and 1214 centers were made in 22 districts of the state for the preliminary examination. At the same time, 1076004 candidates applied for RO/ARO Exam-2023, which is almost double as compared to the year 2021.

In such a situation, the Commission had to arrange double the number of centers for the preliminary examination. For the preliminary examination held on February 11, 2024, 2387 centers were created in 58 districts of the state. The Commission has the same staff and resources as it had in the 2021 examination. Commission sources say that the number of centers was so high that it was not possible to use mobile phone jammers in every centre.

Jammer is used in Rajasthan

According to sources, due to non-availability of sufficient number of jammers, the Commission sent a proposal to the government that in the districts where preliminary examination is proposed, internet service should be shut down on the day of the examination. This is done in the examinations of Rajasthan Public Service Commission. However, the government was not ready for this, because it could cause problems to the common people.

At the same time, the Commission was going to conduct the biggest examination in its history and the biggest challenge before it was the successful conduct of the examination. The Commission had also held a meeting with the nodal officers of all 58 districts a week before the examination. At the same time, after receiving the proposal from the Commission, monitoring was also increased at the examination centres, but a big controversy has arisen after the paper went viral on WhatsApp shortly before the examination. Despite all the efforts of the Commission, the examination is now under doubt.