The UPPSC (Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission) protests, which began in early November 2024, are being driven by students upset about the scheduling of upcoming exams. The protests, centered in Prayagraj, are primarily against the decision to hold the PCS (Provincial Civil Services) Preliminary and RO/ARO (Review Officer/Assistant Review Officer) exams over two days and in multiple shifts. Students argue that holding the exams in a single shift would ensure fairness and consistency, reducing logistical issues and stress for candidates.
The protest escalated when students broke through police barricades and gathered outside the UPPSC office. Some students even jumped over the barricades in frustration, demanding the "One Day, One Exam" approach. Despite assurances from authorities, protests have persisted, fueled by concerns over fairness and transparency in the exam process.
Authorities have acknowledged the students' concerns, but no final resolution has been announced yet. The exams are scheduled for December, and the protesters continue to push for changes to the exam schedule.
1. Protest advantages and disadvantages
Protests can be a powerful way for people to express dissent and push for change, but they come with both advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Advantages:
1. Public Awareness:
Protests draw attention to issues that might otherwise be ignored. In the case of the UPPSC student protests, they highlighted concerns about the fairness of holding exams in multiple shifts, prompting public discussion and media coverage.
2. Pressure on Authorities:
Large protests can exert pressure on governments or organizations to address grievances. When thousands of students gathered to demand a "One Day, One Exam" policy, they forced the UPPSC to acknowledge their concerns.
3. Collective Power:
Protests unite individuals around a common cause, fostering a sense of solidarity and giving voice to marginalized groups. It can be empowering for students to feel heard and supported by their peers.
4. Catalyst for Policy Changes:
Historically, protests have led to significant changes, whether in government policies, corporate practices, or social norms. If the UPPSC revises its exam schedule, it would be a direct result of student activism.
2. Disadvantages:
1. Disruption:
Protests can lead to disruptions in public life, including blocked roads, closed offices, or interruptions in daily activities. In Prayagraj, the student protests disrupted traffic and led to clashes with the police, which can be inconvenient for others and may create tension.
2. Escalation of Violence:
Protests that start peacefully can sometimes turn violent, especially if participants clash with authorities. The UPPSC protest saw students jumping barricades, which could escalate into more confrontational situations.
3. Potential Backlash:
Protests can lead to legal consequences or a negative public perception, particularly if they result in violence or property damage. Authorities may respond with arrests, fines, or other punitive measures, which could harm the protesters' cause.
4. Uncertainty of Outcomes:
While protests raise awareness, there is no guarantee of success. Authorities might ignore demands, and the desired changes might not happen, leading to frustration among protesters.
While protests can be an effective tool for driving change and raising awareness, they also come with risks, such as disruption, violence, and uncertain outcomes. The success of a protest depends on how it is managed and whether it can influence the right decision-makers.
2. Normalization in exam
Normalization in exams refers to the statistical process of adjusting scores to account for variations in difficulty levels across different sets of question papers or shifts. It ensures that candidates who appeared in easier or more difficult shifts are treated fairly, providing a level playing field for all.
1. Why normalization is used:
1. Multiple Shifts:
When an exam is conducted in multiple shifts (like the UPPSC exams), the difficulty of the questions may vary across shifts. Normalization adjusts scores so that candidates from different shifts can be compared equitably.
2. Fairness:
It helps in reducing discrepancies caused by varying levels of question difficulty. For example, if one shift had harder questions than another, normalization compensates for this difference.
3. Wider Participation:
Normalization allows large-scale exams to be conducted over several days or shifts, making it logistically easier to manage without disadvantaging any candidate based on the time or day they took the exam.
2. How normalization works:
1. Percentile or Z-scores:
The most common methods use either percentile-based normalization or Z-score-based techniques. These adjust a candidate’s raw score by comparing it with the highest score and the distribution of scores within their respective shifts.
2. Mean and Standard Deviation:
A candidate's score might be adjusted based on the mean (average) and standard deviation (spread) of scores in their specific shift compared to the overall scores across shifts.
3. Challenges:
Transparency:
Candidates often demand transparency in how the normalization formula is applied, as it affects their final scores and rankings.
Perceived Unfairness:
Despite being designed to equalize scores, some candidates may perceive it as unfair, especially if they feel they performed well but saw their score reduced due to normalization.
Bribery:
If normalization is implemented, some officers and politicians will take advantage of this and become corrupt and they will get some people selected and some of their children selected. This will be unfair to those students who have given the exam by working hard day and night. Because in mathematics people can find out how normalization has been done but in other subjects neither people nor students will be able to find out, so they will be successful in committing fraud. And as soon as the truth of these people comes out, they will file that result in the court and once the case goes to the court, it takes 3 or more years to solve it and then there will be no exam for 3 years and when it will be done then they will be seen looking at the centre again and this matter will keep growing like this.
3. Normalization advantages and disadvantages
Normalization in exams, particularly when conducted in multiple shifts, helps in ensuring fairness but also has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Advantages of Normalization:
1. Fairness Across Shifts:
When exams are conducted in different shifts with varying difficulty levels, normalization ensures that students are evaluated on an equal basis. This prevents candidates from being unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged based on the difficulty of the exam they took.
2. Large-Scale Testing:
It allows large-scale exams to be conducted over multiple days or sessions, accommodating more candidates. This is logistically beneficial for exams with thousands of aspirants, like the UPPSC, where conducting the exam in a single shift is impractical.
3. Statistical Accuracy:
The process uses statistical models, like the Z-score or percentile method, to adjust scores accurately based on performance distribution. This helps in reflecting a more balanced ranking system, avoiding biased results from differing levels of test difficulty.
4. Objective Score Adjustment:
Since the normalization process is based on a mathematical formula, it is objective and eliminates human bias, ensuring the results are data-driven.
2. Disadvantages of Normalization:
1. Complexity and Lack of Transparency:
Many candidates don’t fully understand how normalization works, leading to mistrust or confusion about their final scores. If the formula used isn't clearly communicated, it can lead to frustration, as seen in exams like UPPSC.
2. Perceived Unfairness:
While normalization aims for fairness, some candidates may feel that their scores were unjustly lowered or that the adjustment did not reflect their true performance, particularly those who performed well in a difficult shift.
3. Inconsistency in Difficulty Perception:
While normalization accounts for objective measures of difficulty, the subjective experience of candidates might differ. Some students might feel they performed well despite the exam being difficult, and their score could be lowered due to statistical adjustments, leading to dissatisfaction.
4. No Perfect Measure:
No normalization method can be perfect in eliminating all disparities. There may still be slight variations in how scores are adjusted, and some candidates might feel that their performance doesn’t match their normalized score.
While normalization is an effective tool for large-scale, multi-shift exams, it comes with challenges, particularly in terms of transparency and perceived fairness. Clear communication of the process and ensuring that candidates trust the system are key to making normalization more acceptable.
4. Student loss in protest
The ongoing UPPSC protests and the exam scheduling decisions have led to several potential losses and challenges for the students involved. Here's a breakdown of the key issues:
1. Disruption to Studies and Preparation:
Uncertainty:
The protests and the demand for changing the exam format (from multiple shifts to a single shift) create uncertainty about the final schedule. Students who have been preparing for months now face the psychological burden of not knowing how or when their exams will take place.
Shift in Focus:
Students involved in the protests are distracted from their preparation, which could affect their performance. Instead of focusing on last-minute revisions, many are participating in demonstrations and facing disruptions in study time.
2. Potential Delay in Results and Recruitment:
Postponement of Exams:
If the authorities bow to the pressure from the protests and decide to reschedule or reconsider the exam structure, it may lead to further delays in the examination process. This could push back results and recruitment, affecting students' career time lines.
Extended Stress:
Delays in conducting the exam can extend the period of stress for students. The longer the uncertainty, the more difficult it becomes for candidates to maintain their preparation momentum and mental health.
3. Impact of Normalization or Exam Shifts:
Normalization Discontent:
If the exam proceeds with multiple shifts and normalization, many students fear that the fairness of the process may still be questioned. Those who perform well in one shift may see their scores adjusted unfavorably due to normalization, leading to dissatisfaction.
Trust in the System:
Continued concerns about normalization and exam scheduling may erode trust in the fairness of the UPPSC system. Students may feel that their efforts aren't being fully recognized, potentially discouraging future aspirants.
4. Legal or Disciplinary Repercussions:
Clashes with Authorities:
As some protesters have already engaged in confrontations with the police (e.g., jumping barricades), students risk facing legal or disciplinary actions. This can result in criminal records or fines, which could harm their future employment prospects.
5. Loss of Mental and Emotional Well-Being:
Stress and Fatigue:
The prolonged nature of the protests, combined with uncertainties about the exam, puts immense mental and emotional strain on students. Preparing for competitive exams is already stressful, and the added pressure of uncertainty can lead to burnout.
Lack of Institutional Support:
If students feel that their concerns about fairness are ignored, it may lead to feelings of disillusionment with the education and recruitment system, affecting their morale.
While the protests aim to achieve fairness in the exam process, the immediate consequences include disruption to studies, potential delays in the exam schedule, and emotional distress for the candidates involved. The ultimate outcome will depend on how the UPPSC responds to the demands and whether a solution is found before further escalations occur.
5. Benefits and losses for students due to this decision of UPPSC:
The decision by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) to hold the PCS prelims and RO/ARO exams across two days and in multiple shifts has both benefits and drawbacks for students. Here’s a detailed analysis:
1. Benefits for Students:
1. Ease of Scheduling:
Conducting the exams over multiple days and shifts allows a larger number of candidates to appear without logistical issues like overcrowding at centers. This is particularly important for exams with high participation, as it improves exam management and minimizes the possibility of technical problems during the test.
2. Reduced Pressure:
Having exams in multiple shifts reduces the burden on infrastructure and creates a smoother experience for candidates. Without overcrowded centers or overworked invigilators, students might feel more comfortable taking the test in a less chaotic environment.
3. Flexible Exam Timing:
Students have different peak performance times, so the option of different shifts might align with their preferred test-taking time, helping those who perform better in the morning or afternoon to schedule their exam accordingly.
2. Losses or Drawbacks for Students:
1. Fairness Concerns:
One of the major issues with multiple shifts is the potential variation in difficulty across exam papers. Even though normalization is applied to adjust scores, many students feel that it doesn’t fully address discrepancies, leading to concerns about fairness.
2. Normalization Anxiety:
The process of score normalization can create uncertainty about the final results. Students who perform well in tougher shifts might feel their scores are unfairly lowered, while those in easier shifts could benefit disproportionately. This perceived lack of transparency in score adjustments contributes to anxiety among candidates.
3. Extended Exam Period:
Having the exams over multiple days means students in later shifts might feel disadvantaged, knowing that candidates from earlier shifts have already taken the test. This can increase stress and lead to unnecessary speculation or anxiety over potential exam leaks, even if there are safeguards in place.
4. Impact on Preparation:
The protests themselves are causing a disruption in study routines. With students actively participating in protests or anxiously awaiting updates on whether their demands will be met, their focus on preparation may suffer, potentially impacting performance on the exam day.
6. Lack of exam centers
There are a total of 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh and recently there were talks of making it 76. UPPSC says that it does not have enough centers, they say that it has only 51 centers while there are 75 districts. Let us assume for once that you have less centers, but these exams have been happening for so many years and you never fell short of centers. If you have less centers, then why are they less? Where does the budget that is passed every time go? Don't you have enough budget to increase those centers? If more students have come this time, then a lot of students come every year and the number of students is increasing regularly. You have the records, so why don't you check them. And when it comes to exam centers and elections, you see more students, otherwise no one pays any attention to them nor do you publish more posts for them.
7. Atrocities on students:
Atrocities against students can take many forms, ranging from physical violence and police brutality to systemic injustices that target student rights. These actions can occur in various contexts, including during protests, campus environments, or as a result of policies that disproportionately harm students.
1. Police Brutality During Protests:
Excessive Force:
One of the most common forms of atrocities against students occurs during protests, where law enforcement agencies sometimes use excessive force to control crowds. In many parts of the world, student-led protests have been met with tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and physical violence. A well-known example is the 2019 Jamia Millia Islamia University protests in India, where students protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act were reportedly beaten by police, leading to injuries and widespread outrage.
Arrests and Detainment:
Students are sometimes unlawfully detained or arrested during protests. In authoritarian regimes, student leaders who speak out against the government are often jailed or “disappeared,” creating a climate of fear.
2. Crackdown on Student Movements:
Governments or institutions may respond to student movements with targeted repression. For example, in the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989, Chinese students advocating for democratic reforms were met with military force, resulting in the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands. Similarly, during the UPPSC protests (ongoing in 2024), students faced police barricades and confrontations while protesting against exam policies.
3. Systemic Oppression:
Unequal Access to Education:
In some regions, students, especially those from marginalized groups, face systemic barriers to accessing education. For example, discrimination based on race, caste, or economic background can result in unequal treatment of students, limiting their opportunities and making them more vulnerable to other forms of exploitation.
Intimidation and Censorship:
In many countries, students who raise their voices against governmental policies or school authorities face intimidation, expulsion, or suppression of their freedom of expression. Universities and governments sometimes impose heavy surveillance on student movements, stifling dissent.
4. Sexual and Physical Violence:
In some environments, students, particularly women, face high levels of violence, including sexual assault and harassment. This issue is rampant in universities around the world. In countries like India and the US, reports of rape and sexual harassment within university campuses have led to global movements like #MeToo.
Bullying and Hazing:
In certain educational institutions, violent initiation practices (hazing) can lead to physical and psychological harm. Cases of hazing-related deaths have been reported in universities, especially in sports or fraternity/sorority settings.
5. Mental Health and Neglect:
The pressure of intense academic competition, lack of institutional support, and cases of harassment can have serious impacts on students' mental health. Institutions that fail to address bullying, harassment, or mental health crises can indirectly contribute to student suffering, often leading to tragic outcomes such as suicide.
6. Forced Military Conscription:
In some countries, students are forcibly recruited into military service during conflicts. This disrupts their education and places them in harm’s way. For example, during the 1980s in South Africa, apartheid-era policies required mandatory military service for white male students, often against their will.
7. Do not pay attention:
Government leaders and any big news channel people are not paying any attention to the students. The students are sitting there hungry and thirsty and the government is not listening to them at all. Recently Chief Minister Aditya Nath Yogi passed by there but he neither looked at the students nor talked to them.
8. Government step towards this UPPSC decision:
The government's steps toward addressing the UPPSC decision and the related student protests reflect a balance between managing public order and considering the students' demands. Here are the main approaches:
1. Dialogue and Consideration:
- The government has acknowledged the concerns raised by students regarding the fairness of conducting exams in multiple shifts and the normalization process. Authorities are reportedly considering the possibility of making adjustments to the exam format or the normalization methodology to address these grievances.
- In some instances, officials have met with student representatives to hear their concerns and provide assurances that their demands are being reviewed.
2. Maintaining Law and Order:
- In response to the protests, particularly in cities like Prayagraj, the government has deployed police forces to prevent any escalation of violence and manage the demonstrations. There have been reports of students clashing with police, which led to arrests and confrontations.
- The government’s focus on maintaining public order is typical during large-scale protests, especially when they disrupt public life or lead to road blockages and other disruptions.
3. Potential Policy Adjustments:
- While no major decisions have been made public, there are indications that the UP government and the UPPSC are considering revisions to the exam process to ensure transparency and fairness. This could involve reassessing the multiple-shift system, modifying the normalization formula, or introducing greater transparency in the scoring process.
- Any concessions or policy changes would likely aim to de-escalate the protests and restore faith in the examination process, which is critical for both students and the broader public.
4. Public Communication:
- The government has issued statements urging calm and reiterating that it is committed to conducting exams in a fair and transparent manner. This is part of the broader effort to prevent misinformation or panic among students and ensure that the situation remains under control.
Conclusion:
Ultimately, the resolution of these protests will depend on how effectively the government balances maintaining public order with addressing the legitimate concerns of students. If the government can make policy adjustments that reassure students of a fair exam process, it may help restore trust in the system and avoid future unrest. However, continued suppression or lack of meaningful dialogue could escalate tensions and lead to further conflict. Addressing both the immediate concerns about exams and the long-term demands for educational reforms will be crucial in resolving the underlying issues.
