Pune: MP Supriya Sule bats for MPSC students right to change centre for September exam

Pune: Member of Parliament (MP) Supriya Sule has appealed to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to allow students to change their exam centre while appearing for examinations of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) scheduled in September and November month this year. Sule has requested CM Thackeray to look into the matter after the MPSC refused to entertain the request of students to allow them to choose an exam centre in nearby areas of their residence.

In view of the current Covid-19 outbreak in the state, students and organisations had requested MPSC officials to consider requests about exam centres in close proximity to students' residence. Students and organisations have claimed that “If this option is allowed, then students will not have to travel unnecessary and their exposure to coronavirus infection would be reduced. Apart from this, the students won't have to face other problems like temporary accommodation, as most of them have left their hostels and rented flats after the lockdown was started in Pune city and district areas.”

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has allowed candidates to change their centre for the exam scheduled in October month. MPSC has however termed it impractical and refused to change the centre allocated to each candidate while filling the forms.

In her letter addressed to MPSC Chairperson Satish Gavai, Sule has said, “Most of the students have returned to their native places due to lockdown in cities. Exam centres should not be restricted only in cities like Pune, Mumbai, Aurangabad, Thane and Nagpur and instead they should be made available at the district levels.”

When asked about the arrangement for students arriving in the district at the exam centres for MPSC exams during media interaction on Monday (August 3), Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao had promised to make all possible arrangements for these students. “The exam is scheduled on September 13. I have been informed that around 30 thousand students are expected to arrive in Pune for the exam. We will make all possible arrangements for them.”