The first paper of the UP Provincial Civil Services preliminary examination which was cancelled today after it was leaked on social media, would now be held on May 10.
"The Commission held its meeting this afternoon where, in view of a preliminary inquiry we had conducted into the allegations of question paper leak, it was decided to cancel the examinations for the first paper of the Preliminary exams held yesterday. Now the examinations would be held on May 10", UPPSC Secretary Rizwan-ur-Rahman told PTI in Allahabad.
Around 4.5 lakh candidates had appeared in 917 centres across the state, including 70,000 candidates in Lucknow who took the test in 148 centres.
The cancellation of the examination triggered violent protests by aspirants who demanded a CBI probe and sacking of the Commission's chairman, even as the STF arrested three persons in connection with the leak.
In Lucknow, an official spokesman said, "the PCS preliminary - 2015 General Studies first paper, which was cancelled by the UP Public Service Commission (UPPSC) after it was leaked yesterday will now be held on May 10."
The Special Task Force (STF) however said that no role of any UPPSC or government official was found in the PCS-preliminary paper leak.
He said the three accused Vishal Mehta, Jai Singh and Gyanendra had taken photographs of question papers one and a half hours before the examination and circulated it through WhatsApp messenger.
The paper was leaked yestedray on WhatsApp in Lucknow after which the authorities today cancelled the examination of General Studies first paper.
