UP TGT-PGT Aspirants End 19-Day Hunger Strike After Government Assurance

Four competitive exam aspirants in Prayagraj ended their 19-day hunger strike on Wednesday after District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma and Police Commissioner Piyush Mordia offered them juice.

The officials assured the protesters that they would receive an opportunity in the recruitment process following directions from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Although the hunger strike has ended, several aspirants continue to demonstrate outside the Education Directorate.

The protesters said they would maintain their peaceful agitation until they receive a written assurance that the TGT-PGT recruitment will follow the previous rules.

The students also distributed sweets after ending the hunger strike.

The aspirants launched their indefinite protest on September 5, demanding recruitment under the earlier rules.

Five students initially began the indefinite hunger strike, but one later required hospitalisation after his health deteriorated.

The other four continued their fast and later shifted their protest to the Education Directorate premises.

The development came after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday that he had asked Secondary Education Minister Gulab Devi to write to the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

Yogi Adityanath also said the government should explore an arrangement to give the protesting aspirants an opportunity to appear in competitive examinations after a specified period.

The protesters claim that changes introduced to the TGT-PGT recruitment framework have left a large number of candidates unable to participate.

Earlier reports said the 2025 changes could prevent more than seven lakh candidates from applying under the new eligibility framework.

The aspirants are therefore continuing their agitation and seeking an opportunity under the previous recruitment rules.

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