The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has scheduled the Combined State/Senior Subordinate Service (PCS) Prelims 2024 for December 7 and December 8, covering 41 districts in the state. This preliminary examination will take place in two sessions each day: the morning session from 9.30 AM to 11.30 AM and the afternoon session from 2.30 PM to 4.30 PM.
This arrangement comes in response to the shortage of examination centers meeting the required standards across various districts. Despite considerable efforts, the volume of candidates necessitated the two-day examination approach to accommodate over 16.52 lakh applicants.
In addition to the PCS Prelims, UPPSC has slated the Review Officer (RO) and Assistant Review Officer (ARO) Prelims for December 22 and December 23, 2024.
UPPSC clarified that both the PCS and RO/ARO preliminary exams serve only as screening mechanisms and do not determine final merit. Given the large candidate numbers, the exams will follow a multi-day, multi-shift format to ensure standardized evaluation across shifts, based on recommendations from a high-level committee of experts.
The commission assured candidates that it would use computer-based evaluation methods to guarantee fairness and transparency.
This is the first time UPPSC will hold both exams within the same month, with less than 20 days between them. The commission's June 19, 2024, Government Order (GO) mandates that exams with over five lakh candidates are to be conducted in multiple shifts, a guideline followed here due to the high candidate volume of 10.76 lakh for the RO/ARO prelims.
Candidates are encouraged to stay updated via UPPSC's official notifications to ensure they are well-prepared for these important state-level exams.