New Delhi: “Fool-proof plan of technology and manpower…this is how the police and the board passed the constable recruitment exam.”
The political situation in Uttar Pradesh couldn’t have been described better than by the second part of this headline (original in Hindi) in popular Hindi newspaper Amar Ujala on the morning of September 1, 2024.
The examination to recruit 60,244 police constables in Uttar Pradesh was not only a test of over 48 lakh aspiring candidates, but also of the Adityanath-led government and its administrative machinery. After the original schedule was cancelled by the government earlier this year in February over widespread complaints of question paper leak and other irregularities, the examination was conducted afresh over five days – August 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31.
Although there were some initial hiccups, alleged rumours of paper leak – outrightly dismissed by the police – and cases of attempted cheating and impersonation, the government managed to complete the written tests successfully in its second crack at probably the largest recruitment exam held by any state.
Also read: Cheating, Impersonation and Rumours of Paper Leak: UP Police Constable Exam Marred by Irregularities
Ever since the final session of examination concluded in 67 districts of the state on Saturday evening, the government has been patting its own back. Having earned itself a bad reputation for being unable to hold mass recruitment examinations without getting entrapped in judicial complications or paper leak controversies, the second attempt of the police constable exam was a major test of the administrative nerve of the Adityanath government.
The issue of jobs, youth anger over paper leaks and delays in recruitment, especially for assistant teachers and police constables, went against the Bharatiya Janata Party in the recent general election, as it suffered a massive drop in seats.
According to the police, a total number of 48.17 lakh candidates registered for the examination. However, the actual number of candidates who eventually took the examination was much lower.
The complete data for the fifth day of the examination is not available. But if we add up the total numbers for the first four days, it appears that a massive 30% of the registered candidates did not appear for the examination.
According to the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB), which conducted the exam, over the first four days, around 38.50 lakh candidates were registered for the written test. However, only around 32.7 lakh candidates downloaded their admit cards and a further reduced number of 27 lakh candidates eventually sat the examination. According to reports, 32 lakh candidates appeared for the exam over the five days.
The local Hindi media in the state explained it as the success of the government’s stringent measures taken to check the use of unfair means and malpractices. The publicity department of the government too projected that the examination was conducted without any controversy due to the new stringent law brought in by the state to check paper leaks and cheating.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) after the examination concluded on August 31, Adityanath said it was concluded in an “impartial, transparent and peaceful” manner.
The UP police too patted its back for conducting the “world’s largest civil police hiring.”
“Tour de force…This accomplishment is a true testament to our unwavering commitment to transparency and fairness,” said the police.
Also read: Paper Leak Row: Gujarat-Based Firm Blacklisted by Yogi Govt Handling Centre’s Recruitment Exam
After facing the political embarrassment of cancelling the initial examination due to public pressure, Adityanath had issued strict instructions to officials to leave no stones unturned this time to carry out the process in a smooth manner. Weeks after the 2024 Lok Sabha election results, his government even brought in a new stringent law imposing punishments up to life sentences and fines up to Rs 1 crore for crimes related paper leak and organized frauds. According to the law, the government can recover the financial burden it suffers due to impact on examinations from the solver gangs and companies accused of improper practices. It can also attach the property belonging to the accused persons.
With UP scheduled to hold by-polls election for 10 Assembly seats, the Adityanath government faces the task of addressing the critical question of unemployment and jobs. Even though the schedule for the bypolls has not been declared, Adityanath has been touring the districts where polls are due, distributing employment certificates and launching development and welfare schemes.
In Kanpur, last week Adityanath gloated about the measures his government had taken to ensure that the police recruitment examination was conducted smoothly.
“Parinda bhi par nahi mar sakta (Even a bird cannot flap its wings),” Adityanath said about the security arrangement as he threatened to seize the property of and put behind bars those who dared to breach the system.
Adityanath said that his government would provide as many as two lakh government jobs over the next two years. Of these, one lakh would jobs in the police department.
UP police said it conducted rigorous physical verifications, digital photo captures, facial recognition, Iris scans, biometric checks and real-time Aadhaar verification to ensure that “every step” of the examination was “seamlessly executed.”
The candidates were frisked and checked outside the exam centres by police personnel with hand-held metal detectors.
The state government said that the police constable recruitment exam “set a new benchmark in examination integrity.” The government also deployed AI-based CCTV surveillance and drones during the process.