PRAYAGRAJ: The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission’s (UPPSC) prestigious PCS and ACF/RFO Preliminary Examinations 2025 witnessed a record low turnout on Sunday, with more than half the registered candidates skipping the exam.
Out of 6,26,387 registered candidates, only 2,65,364 (42.5%) appeared for the exam, while 3,61,023 (57.5%) remained absent across 1,435 centers in all 75 districts of the state. This marks the second consecutive year when attendance has dropped below 45%.
In 2024, the exam had also seen a sharp fall in participation—only 41.89% of the 5,76,154 registered candidates appeared that year.
Impact of Stringent Measures Post Paper Leak
Officials believe that the drastic dip in attendance is largely due to the stricter measures introduced by the UPPSC following the RO/ARO 2023 paper leak scandal.
Since 2024, the Commission has implemented biometric verification, iris scanning, CCTV surveillance, and AI-based monitoring systems at all centers to curb malpractices.
Earlier, attendance rates used to hover around 60% or higher, but the tougher examination environment and monitoring have seemingly discouraged many non-serious or proxy candidates.
In Prayagraj district alone, 28,368 candidates were registered across 67 centers. Of them, 14,339 (50.54%) appeared, while 14,029 (49.46%) skipped the exam.
Exam Questions: A Balanced Yet Tricky Paper
The General Studies (GS) paper included a question about Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, along with others on topics such as:
- Human Development Index (HDI)
- Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
- Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical-lift railway sea bridge in Tamil Nadu
- Operation Olivia, the conservation initiative for Olive Ridley turtles on the Odisha coast
- Suez Canal and global trade routes
The Prelims 2025 were conducted in two sessions—9:30 AM to 11:30 AM for General Studies and 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM for CSAT.
Crowded Bus Stands and Stations After Exam
As the exam concluded, massive crowds of candidates gathered at bus stands and railway stations in Prayagraj between 5 PM and 7 PM.
Assistant Regional Manager Jaikaran stated that 110 additional bus trips were arranged on major routes, including Varanasi, Jaunpur, Fatehpur, and Kanpur.
Across the entire Prayagraj zone, 640 buses were deployed to handle the rush.
Divisional Operations Manager Amit Singh confirmed enhanced security and facilities at Prayagraj Junction, where trains like Kanpur Intercity, Lichchavi Express, and Sangam Express saw heavy crowds.
Expert Opinions: A Conceptual, Analytical Test
According to civil services trainer Naveen Pankaj, the UPPSC maintained its traditional question pattern but adopted UPSC-style analytical framing for options.
Of the 150 GS questions, about 80 were statement-based, 25 required chronological sequencing, 20 involved matching pairs, and 20 involved cause-and-effect reasoning.
This structure, he noted, made seemingly easy questions more complex.
Experts from StudyIQ IAS, including Chief Academic Officer Amrit Upadhyay, described the paper as balanced and qualitative, testing not only factual knowledge but also analytical and interpretive ability.
They predicted the following expected cutoffs:
- General (Unreserved): 100–120 marks
- OBC: 100–110 marks
- SC: 80–95 marks
- ST: 80–90 marks
- Women Candidates: 100–110 marks
Paper Analysis: Moderate GS, Easy CSAT
Most candidates rated the General Studies paper as moderate and CSAT as comparatively easy.
Candidates like Pradeep Kumar Yadav (Ghazipur) and Purushottam (Sultanpur) said that while the GS paper was average, questions on current affairs were slightly confusing.
The paper covered almost every major subject evenly:
- Geography & Polity: 23 questions each
- History: 21
- Economy & Planning: 18
- Science: 17
- Environment: 14
- Uttar Pradesh-specific topics: 7
- Current Affairs: 27
District Administration Ensured Fair & Transparent Conduct
District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma personally inspected multiple centers, including Mary Wanamaker Girls Inter College and Bharat Scouts & Guides Inter College, to ensure a smooth, transparent, and malpractice-free examination.
He also reviewed the CCTV monitoring control room and instructed officials to maintain strict vigilance throughout the process.
Attendance Trends Over the Years
| Year | Registered Candidates | Attendance (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5,95,700 | 66.38% |
| 2021 | 6,91,173 | 62.20% |
| 2022 | 6,05,023 | 63.72% |
| 2023 | 5,67,657 | 67.69% |
| 2024 | 5,76,154 | 41.89% |
| 2025 | 6,26,387 | 42.50% |
The PCS Prelims 2025 once again reflect UPPSC’s shift toward conceptual and analytical testing over rote learning. However, the declining attendance trend remains a concern, raising questions about the growing gap between the number of applicants and those genuinely attempting the exam.
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