PSC candidates protest in Kerala over delayed job appointments

For thousands of UGC NET exam participants, waiting for the answer keys has become a test of patience. More than a month after the exam concluded in June 2026, candidates continue to await the date and time for the publication of preliminary keys and results, while the National Testing Agency (NTA) remains silent.

Due to the inaction of the students, one group has declared a firm stance: if the answer keys are not published by August 10, they will hold a demonstration in front of the NTA office on August 11. This situation has sparked a wave of indignation on social media. Participants note that the delay not only causes inconvenience but also negatively affects admission to doctoral programs (PhD), securing assistant professor positions, and other opportunities related to UGC NET.

The UGC NET exam took place in various stages from June 22 to July 5. Since then, students have been waiting for the keys. Once the answer keys are released, candidates are given the opportunity to dispute their answers, after which the final result is published.

On social media, particularly on the X platform, students are expressing their dissatisfaction. One participant wrote that 40 days have passed, and the answer keys have still not arrived, with no response to this. In his post, he stated that over seven hundred thousand students are waiting for results, while deadlines for assistant professor positions and final application dates for PhD are expiring.

Another user called for the release of the answer keys before August 10, warning that otherwise, a protest would take place in front of the NTA office on August 11. Another candidate reported that this delay is causing feelings of helplessness and anxiety among students. They prepared for and took the exam, and now they are forced to wait without any information. Consequently, they demanded that NTA explain why the answer keys have not yet been released and insist on receiving clear information.

The participants' problems are not limited to just the answer keys or results; the delay in UGC NET results is also hindering preparation for PhD admission and job searching as an assistant professor. Many candidates report difficulties in planning their future career paths. They demand that NTA promptly provide information regarding the results and answer keys.

While students are concerned about the delay of the answer keys, their anxiety is heightened by allegations of a leak of the UGC NET exam. Earlier in July, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the sociology examination material was leaked before the test. He claimed that the leaked PDF contained many questions related to the exam, although these allegations have not yet been confirmed.

Students had previously raised issues regarding this exam, complaining about spelling errors, translation mistakes, and questions falling outside the curriculum. Following these complaints, NTA announced its intention to conduct an investigation. Given that various issues regarding the exam were already arising, NTA's silence is only increasing participants' anxiety. Now students are asking not only about the timeline for the release of the keys but also about the reasons for such a prolonged delay, demanding that NTA provide clear information on the causes and future dates.

The entrance examination for the positions of Agriculture Officer and Assistant Agricultural Officer in Karnataka was postponed just one day before its scheduled date. The recruitment for 128 Agriculture Officer (AO) positions and 817 Assistant Agricultural Officer (AAO) positions under the Department of Agriculture was moved from August 8 and 9.

Despite the suddenness of this decision, it was not made due to a leak of examination materials or administrative violations, but as a result of active protests by students studying agriculture.

The main reason for the disagreement was the recruitment rules and the established eligibility criteria. The government allowed participation in this competition not only for graduates of agricultural universities (B.Sc Agriculture) but also for students from other higher education disciplines. Agricultural students strongly opposed this rule, arguing that technical agronomist positions should be exclusively available to graduates of relevant specialties.

Students intensified their actions, demanding the cancellation of the exam. On August 4, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Minister Priyanka Hargre visited the Gandhi Centre for Agricultural Sciences (GKVK) to meet with the protesting students and assure them that the issue would be reviewed. However, the students remained dissatisfied with the assurances received and refused to back down, staging an indefinitely long sit-in strike at Freedom Park in Bengaluru.

Under pressure from the ongoing movement, Minister Priyanka Hargre met with the students at Freedom Park and announced the government's decision via social media. The state issued an order withdrawing the old notifications for the recruitment of 128 AO positions and 817 AAO positions. A special expert committee was formed to resolve the situation and will submit its report within 15 days. Necessary changes to the 'Cadre and Recruitment' (C&R) rules will be made based on the recommendations of this committee.

H. Prasnan (IAS), the Working Director of the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), officially confirmed that the written exam scheduled for August 8 and 9 is temporarily suspended. New exam dates will be announced after receiving the expert committee's report and completing the review process.

Protests related to corruption and inefficiency in the State Public Service Commission (KPSC) examinations have been ongoing in the Indian state of Kerala for almost a month, according to Indian media. Hundreds of candidates who successfully passed the exams but have not yet received appointments to government positions are protesting in front of the government secretariat in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram.

The protesters are demanding the resignation of the KPSC chairman, as well as a fairer and more effective assessment and examination process. Furthermore, they have expressed dissatisfaction with local leaders showing support for the NEET protests in New Delhi while ignoring the PSC protests in Kerala.

Reasons for the Protests

Despite some candidates, such as those who took the primary school teacher exams, being included in ranking lists, they have not received appointments. The protesters also claim that the number of vacancies was inaccurately stated, leaving many high-ranking individuals unemployed.

The exams and the KPSC itself are accused of grading falsification and corruption. Investigations indicate that some candidates who achieved high ranks attained their scores through manipulation of the assessment process. According to Indian media reports, candidates have also found discrepancies in the distribution of test materials for certain recruitment exams.

Investigation Following Corruption Allegations

On July 31, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala Criminal Police Department uncovered irregularities in the KPSC evaluation for the post of State Planning Council chief. Media reports revealed that the person who ranked first, identified by the Kerala newspaper Manorama as Arun J Pratap, allegedly failed to answer 10 questions, suggesting manipulation in determining his top rank.

It is reported that the SIT is also investigating potential political interference in the examinations. Due to the increasing number of complaints regarding various PSC exams, the investigative team has been expanded.