Digital News Guru Education Desk:
UP government has cancelled the Assistant Professor recruitment exam held in April 2025
The UP government has taken a significant decision to cancel the Assistant Professor recruitment examination conducted in April 2025 amid serious allegations of irregularities and a widespread paper-leak racket, raising concerns over the integrity of the recruitment process in India’s most populous state. This move, announced on 7 January 2026, aims to protect the interests of aspiring candidates and restore public trust in government job selection systems.
What Happened: The April 2025 Exam and Its Purpose
The Assistant Professor examination, organised by the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC) under Advertisement No. 51, was held on 16 and 17 April 2025. It was intended to fill around 1,017 vacancies for Assistant Professors in government-aided degree colleges across Uttar Pradesh. The recruitment attracted a large number of candidates — with over 1.14 lakh aspirants competing for the coveted teaching positions.
However, enthusiasm soon turned into uncertainty as complaints began to surface regarding the examination’s fairness, prompting political and administrative scrutiny of the process.
Paper Leak Racket and STF Investigation
The controversy escalated when the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) received credible intelligence about irregularities, including the leak and sale of question papers and illegal extortion from candidates. Acting on these inputs, the STF launched a detailed probe into the conduct of the examination.
During the investigation, authorities arrested three accused individuals — Mehboob Ali, Baijnath Pal, and Vinay Pal — on 20 April 2025. These arrests were made on allegations of rigging the exam, preparing fake question papers, and profiting by misleading candidates into believing they had access to original question sets.
Mehboob Ali — identified as a confidential assistant to the then Chairperson of UPESSC — confessed during interrogation that he had obtained original question papers during the paper moderation process. He allegedly distributed these leaked papers to candidates in exchange for money, undermining the fairness of the recruitment system. Further evidence was gathered through analysis of mobile phone data and informant networks that corroborated his involvement.
In connection with the investigation, an FIR (Case Crime No. 144/25) was registered at Vibhuti Khand Police Station, Lucknow, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. As part of protective measures for the ongoing inquiry and to ensure transparency, the then Chairperson of UPESSC, Kirti Pandey, was asked to step down from her position.
Government’s Response and Cancellation Decision
Recognising the gravity of the irregularities and the potential compromise of the recruitment process, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered the cancellation of the April 2025 exam in a press release issued on 7 January 2026. The state government said the decision was taken “in the interest of safeguarding the future of candidates” and to uphold the values of transparency, fairness, and integrity in public examinations.
According to official statements, the cancellation underscores the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards examination malpractice. The press note emphasised the state’s commitment to ensuring that recruitment processes are independent, impartial, and corruption-free.
Re-examination and Future Safeguards
As part of corrective action, the government has directed the UPESSC to conduct the Assistant Professor exam afresh at the earliest opportunity. This fresh examination is expected to adhere to enhanced safeguards, including stricter monitoring, more secure handling of question papers, and stronger mechanisms to prevent leaks and malpractice.
Officials assured candidates that they will not be required to reapply for the next examination, but that updated schedules and instructions will be issued soon by the UPESSC. While an exact date for the re-exam has not yet been announced, authorities are expected to release the revised timetable shortly.
Impact on Aspirants and Academic Community
The cancellation has been a major setback for thousands of aspirants who had been preparing rigorously and eagerly awaiting results and interview calls. Many had invested months of study, time, and financial resources into the recruitment process, only to face disappointment due to circumstances beyond their control.
The impact has also reverberated across the academic community in Uttar Pradesh, where competition for government teaching posts remains intense. Candidates and educational forums have voiced mixed reactions — while some have supported the government’s decision as a step towards fairness, others have expressed frustration over delays in hiring and uncertainty regarding future timelines.
Broader Implications for Recruitment Transparency
The decision to annul a major state recruitment exam highlights the growing emphasis on accountability and transparency in public sector hiring. Uttar Pradesh, being one of India’s largest states with a vast population of job seekers, frequently conducts large-scale recruitment examinations. Ensuring that such processes are fair and free from organised malpractice is crucial not only for individual candidates but also for public confidence in government institutions.
By taking decisive action against those involved in the paper leak and ordering a fresh and more secure selection process, the state government aims to set a precedent for how future examinations should be conducted — with robust integrity and minimal room for wrongdoing.
Conclusion
The cancellation of the Assistant Professor recruitment exam by the Uttar Pradesh government marks a critical moment in the state’s efforts to combat irregularities in public examinations. While the decision brings immediate disruption to candidates’ plans, it also reinforces the government’s commitment to fairness and transparency.
As the UPESSC prepares for a fresh examination, candidates and observers alike will be keenly watching how new safeguards and procedures are implemented to ensure that the next recruitment cycle is credible, equitable, and free of controversy.
You May Also Read: Neeru Bajwa Opens Up With Humor About Her “Complicated Situationship”
