The Uttar Pradesh government has taken the drastic step of cancelling the Assistant Professor recruitment examination conducted last year. This decision comes in the wake of a major scandal uncovered by the state's Special Task Force (STF), which revealed an alleged paper leak and illegal extortion racket targeting candidates.
CM's Directive Leads to Exam Cancellation
Officials confirmed that the cancellation order was issued on the direct instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The move, announced on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, aims to protect the future of honest candidates and uphold the integrity of the recruitment process. The government stated that all selection procedures must be "independent, fair, transparent and impartial" to ensure justice for deserving applicants.
The examination, conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC) in Prayagraj on April 16 and 17, 2025, is now null and void. The commission has been directed to organize a fresh examination at the earliest, with strict protocols to guarantee complete fairness and transparency.
STF Probe and Arrests Unravel the Scam
The scandal came to light during an intelligence operation by the UP STF against cheating mafias. The agency received specific inputs about serious irregularities connected to the Assistant Professor test. The information suggested the circulation of fake question papers and the extortion of money from aspirants.
Following a confidential inquiry ordered by the Chief Minister, the STF swung into action. On April 20, 2025, they arrested three individuals identified as Mehboob Ali, Baijnath Pal, and Vinay Pal. A government spokesperson described the accused as part of a gang that prepared counterfeit question papers and deceived candidates by falsely promising access to the original exam material.
An FIR was registered at Vibhuti Khand police station in Lucknow under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). To ensure an unbiased investigation, the then-chairperson of UPESSC was asked to resign. This action was taken because the prime accused, Mehboob Ali, was serving as his assistant.
Breach of Sanctity and Wider Implications
During interrogation, Mehboob Ali reportedly confessed to obtaining question papers for various subjects during the moderation process. He allegedly shared these papers with candidates in exchange for money. Further investigation, which included scrutinizing the mobile phone records of the accused and associated candidates, indicated the possible involvement of more people.
Data obtained from the commission confirmed the breach of the examination's sanctity. This conclusive evidence of malpractice led CM Adityanath to order the cancellation of the entire examination. The government emphasized that this tough decision was made to safeguard the interests of genuine candidates and to maintain public trust in the state's recruitment mechanisms.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges in securing high-stakes public recruitment exams and the state administration's stated zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and unfair practices. All eyes will now be on the UPESSC to conduct a flawless and secure re-examination for the Assistant Professor posts.
