Prayagraj: The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission’s (UPPSC) Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services Preliminary Examination 2025 (PCS & ACF/RFO) witnessed a historic dip in attendance, with over 3.6 lakh candidates failing to appear.
Out of 6,26,387 registered candidates, only 2,65,364 appeared for the exam, resulting in an attendance rate of just 42.5% – one of the lowest in recent history.
Attendance Below 45% for Second Year in a Row
This is the second consecutive year that UPPSC has recorded an attendance of less than 45%:
The 3,61,023 absentee figure raises significant questions about candidate engagement, exam pressure, and the impact of recent UPPSC reforms.
Strict Security Protocols: A Deterrent?
In a bid to eliminate malpractice, UPPSC introduced enhanced exam security, including:
- Biometric verification
- Iris scanning
- CCTV surveillance
- Artificial intelligence monitoring
While these measures were aimed at curbing impersonation and cheating, many believe they also discouraged genuine candidates, particularly those unsure about compliance or lacking access to ID updates.
Paper Analysis: Moderate to Tough, Confusing Options
The exam was conducted in two shifts –
- General Studies (GS): 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
- CSAT (Aptitude Test): 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Experts described the GS paper as moderate in difficulty, but highlighted the complexity of options which made even easy questions time-consuming.
According to civil services mentors – “UPPSC followed UPSC-style question options — declarative, matching, and reasoning-based — increasing the difficulty of selection, not the question itself.”
Breakdown of question types –
- 80 code-based declarative questions
- 25 sequential matching
- 20 pair matching
- 20 statement-reason
Candidate Reactions: Mixed Reviews on Difficulty
Students offered varied responses –
- Ritika, candidate from Kanpur: “The GS paper was average, but some current affairs and math questions were tricky.”
- Neha (Prayagraj): “CSAT was easy; most candidates will pass it. GS needed analytical thinking.”
- Praveen (Prayagraj): “The science and environment sections had tricky phrasing. You had to read very carefully.”
Balanced Subject Distribution in GS Paper
The GS paper was praised for its balanced subject distribution –
Sample GS questions included –
- Israel’s Iron Dome defense system
- Jallianwala Bagh massacre
- Pamban Bridge (India’s first vertical-lift railway sea bridge)
- Operation Olivia (Olive Ridley turtle protection)
- The Suez Canal
Expected Cutoff (Based on Expert Opinion)
Reforms, Rigor, and Realities
The UPPSC’s increased focus on integrity and analytical rigour in the PCS Prelims is clear. However, the simultaneous drop in attendance reflects deeper concerns about candidate readiness, exam anxiety, and the cost-benefit analysis of attempting such a high-stakes test under intense scrutiny.
With the answer key release and mains exam schedule ahead, UPPSC may consider reviewing its outreach and exam policies to ensure greater participation without compromising exam fairness.
