PRAYAGRAJ, April 2 -- Many posts under the prestigious Uttar Pradesh Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services Examination (commonly known as UP PCS) remain unfilled each year despite massive applicant interest. The PCS recruitment exams have been attracting over 5.5 lakh candidates annually in the state for several years. Yet, the latest PCS-2024 results revealed that 15 out of 947 posts could not be filled due to the absence of 'suitable candidates'. This trend is not new. In the final results of PCS-2023, announced on January 23, 2024, a total of 251 candidates were declared successful against 253 posts across 20 different categories. Two posts of technical assistant (geology)-one each for OBC and SC-remained vacant due to the non-availability of eligible candidates. Similarly, in PCS-2022, 19 posts remained unfilled, including one post of manager in the estate department, 16 posts of administrator, and two posts of chemist in the Khadi and Village Industries Board. In PCS-2021, 627 candidates were selected against 678 posts, leaving 51 posts vacant. These included two positions of labour enforcement officer and 49 positions of principal in government intermediate colleges (GICs) and government girls' intermediate colleges (GGICs). In PCS-2020, 476 candidates were selected against 487 posts, while 11 vacancies for child development project officer remained unfilled. In PCS-2019, 434 candidates were declared successful against 453 vacancies, leaving 19 posts vacant. Conceding the fact, former chairman of the UP Public Service Commission, Prof KB Pandey, said posts remain vacant because candidates often fail to meet the minimum required qualifications for various positions. Academicians and experts involved in guiding PCS aspirants note that many candidates stumble at the final hurdle of the interview, which often leads to advertised vacancies remaining unfilled. "The aim of the interview panel is not just to test a candidate's knowledge but also to assess personality, clarity of thought, reasoning ability, communication skills, decision-making, application of theoretical knowledge and stress management," says Prof Yogeshwar Tewari, former professor of medieval and modern history at Allahabad University. "These aspects often result in candidates failing to clear the final hurdle even for those who manage to reach the interview rounds multiple times," he adds....