The Uttar Pradesh government has taken decisive action in response to allegations of a paper leak during the preliminary examination conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) for the recruitment of Review Officers (RO) and Assistant Review Officers (ARO). Following reports of the leaked question paper, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered the cancellation of the exam held on February 11, directing for a re-examination to be conducted within six months.
Chief Minister Adityanath, in a post on X, announced the cancellation of the Review Officer/Assistant Review Officer (Preliminary) Examination, 2023, and emphasized the government’s commitment to uphold the integrity of examinations. He sternly warned that those found responsible for compromising the sanctity of the exam would face severe consequences.
Aspirants had long voiced concerns over the alleged paper leak, demanding the cancellation of the exam through various social media platforms. The hashtag #UPPSC_WE_DEMAND_REEXAM gained traction as students expressed their disappointment and apprehensions.
To investigate the matter thoroughly, the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police was assigned to probe the paper leak allegations. Subsequently, based on evidence provided to the government and reports from the UPPSC, Chief Minister Adityanath instructed the cancellation of both sessions of the RO and ARO examinations.
The government’s decision to cancel the exam aligns with recent legislative efforts to curb paper leaks and malpractices in public examinations. The passage of ‘The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024’ by the Rajya Sabha underscores the commitment to safeguard the integrity of recruitment and entrance examinations, including those conducted by prestigious institutions like UPSC, SSC, NEET, JEE, and CUET.
The cancellation of the UPPSC RO and ARO exam underscores the government’s resolve to uphold transparency and fairness in the recruitment process. With the directive for a re-examination within six months, efforts are underway to ensure that the integrity of the examination system is restored, providing a level playing field for all aspirants.