Academicians and experts have expressed surprise over the recent student protests against the normalization process in UPPSC PCS and RO/ARO preliminary exams.
They have urged students to first understand the process before forming opinions or taking to the streets.
Professor Yogeshwar Tiwari of Allahabad University expressed concern over the nature of the protests, stating that such behavior is not expected from students preparing for administrative services exams.
“Aspirants for civil services should consider whether disruptive protests align with the professional conduct required of them in administrative roles,” he said.
He advised students to thoroughly familiarize themselves with the normalization procedure before making any hasty decisions.
Various states have widely implemented normalization, a process that adjusts for differing levels of difficulty across exam question sets.
Dr. Apoorva Bhargava, an educationist and counselor, voiced support for the measure, emphasizing that despite some protests, the normalization process is necessary for the qualitative improvement of administrative exams.
“Normalization is already in place in many states, and its opposition here is difficult to understand,” she said. “It is a step forward to ensure fairness and consistency.”
Private educational institution leaders have also rallied behind the process.
Amit Tripathi, Center Head of Academy Prayagraj, emphasized that authorities should have implemented normalization earlier. He highlighted that similar practices in other exams, like NEET, enjoy wide acceptance without objection.
“It benefits capable students and ensures that varying question difficulties do not unfairly affect candidates,” he said, adding that the government should provide a clearer explanation of the process’s advantages to competitive exam aspirants.
Some Students See UPPSC Protests As Politically Driven
However, some students view the protests not as a technical opposition but as politically motivated.
Anuj Singh, a student from Ballia preparing for administrative services, mentioned that a political leader had joined the protests, a move that captured in a viral video.
Devendra Pratap, another exam aspirant, suggested that political parties often use such events to rally support and advance their own agendas.
Responding to these concerns, Public Service Commission Secretary Ashok Kumar clarified that they changed recent exam rules based on student demands, including using government and aided colleges as test centers and limiting exam center distances to 10 kilometers.
He emphasized that the normalization process follows standard practice in competitive exams nationwide, aiming to ensure fairness and eliminate any discrimination in the evaluation process.
As the debate continues, experts and academicians call on students to engage in constructive dialogue, seek clarity, and approach the issue with a broader perspective before resorting to protests.
Also Read: Keshav Prasad Maurya Supports Student Demands For Fair UP PCS Exam Process
