PRAYAGRAJ, Oct. 13 -- More than half of the registered candidates skipped the preliminary examination of the combined state/upper subordinate services (PCS) and assistant conservator of forest (ACF)/range forest officer (RFO) services-2025 held on Sunday, raising concerns over the declining turnout in one of the state's most prestigious competitive exams.

Out of the 6,26,387 candidates registered for the examination conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) across 1,435 centres in all 75 districts, only around 2,65,364 (42.50%) appeared, while a staggering 3,61,023 (57.50%) remained absent.

This marks the second consecutive year when attendance in the PCS Preliminary Exam has dipped below 45%. In the 2024 edition ...