The Uttar Pradesh Education Services Selection Commission (UPESSC) is once again under fire after announcing yet another postponement of the U.P. Post Graduate Teachers (PGT) examination. This recent delay, revealed on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, has drawn strong condemnation from both hopeful candidates and the political opposition, highlighting deep-seated frustration with the persistent recruitment hurdles.
Students preparing for the exam have voiced serious concerns, accusing government authorities of being indifferent to their plight. They claim these repeated delays are toying with the careers of hundreds of thousands of unemployed individuals who are spending their most productive years waiting for a government position. This marks the fifth time the PGT exam, initially announced back in April 2022, has been pushed back, each time with vague references to ‘unavoidable reasons’.
A recent notice from the Commission, dated September 29, confirmed the latest setback: “It is informed to everyone concerned that advertisement number 02/2022, Lecturer (PGT) written examination, which was scheduled to be held on October 15 and 16, 2025, has now been deferred due to unavoidable reasons. The revised dates will be announced later by the Board.” This statement, however, offers little solace to those affected.
Rajat Singh, an aspirant and national executive member of Sanyukt Yuva Morcha, articulated the deep frustration: “The initial advertisement for this exam came out in April 2022, with plans for it to be held that same year. After public outcry over previous delays, new dates were set for April 11-12, 2025, then pushed to June 18-19, and later to August. On August 1, the Commission once more announced October 15-16 as the dates. Now, here we are again, with another postponement. This repeated deferral casts a long shadow over the lives of countless postgraduate, unemployed aspirants who see this exam as a critical path to a better future. Their prime years are slipping away, consumed by an increasingly uncertain pursuit of a government job.”
Adding to the chorus of disappointment, Vishal Mishra described the situation as a profound “betrayal by the system.” He shared his personal struggle: “Like me, thousands have been eagerly awaiting this examination. I’ve spent the last two years in Prayagraj, dedicating myself to preparation. My parents’ hard-earned money is being squandered as the exam dates are continually moved. Both the Commission and the government are letting down these aspiring individuals.”
The Uttar Pradesh Education Services Selection Commission (UPESSC), founded in 2023, holds the vital responsibility of recruiting teachers for a wide range of educational institutions. This includes aided non-government colleges, aided minority colleges, aided non-government intermediate colleges, higher secondary schools, schools overseen by the U.P. Basic Education Board, aided junior high schools, and their associated primary schools, as well as aided minority junior high schools and their primary affiliates.
Notably, this latest postponement from the Commission surfaced merely days after its Chairperson, Kriti Pandey, tendered her resignation to the Education Department, raising further questions about stability and leadership.
Opposition parties have not held back in their criticism of the State government, accusing it of jeopardizing the future of countless unemployed individuals. Akhilesh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party (SP), publicly questioned the situation: “If the Uttar Pradesh Education Services Selection Commission cannot manage to conduct examinations, why is it not disbanded? What are these ‘inevitable reasons’ that remain unexplained? True transparency builds honesty and trust within a system. Clearly, something is being concealed.”
Senior Congress leader Anil Yadav echoed these sentiments, stating, “These incessant delays, stretching over years, amount to a criminal act against students who are diligently preparing for these examinations. What purpose does a Selection Commission serve if it fails to conduct its core function? Students are compelled to spend years pursuing employment, investing substantial funds in preparation and living expenses. The government bears direct responsibility for these unacceptable delays.”