The question paper leak in the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC) exam for graduate-level posts, and the response of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to the protests that began on the streets of Dehradun and spread across the state, are disquieting. They point to a state apparatus incapable of safeguarding the integrity of public examinations and unwilling to reckon with the consequences of its own failures. This is not the first time the UKSSSC has found itself mired in controversy, nor is it the only recruitment body in the state to come under a cloud. In January 2023, the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (UKPSC) had to cancel its patwari and accountant exam over allegations of malpractice. In December 2021, the UKSSSC was similarly hit by a paper leak. For a state with a high level of unemployment, one that is also being hollowed out by migration — entire villages in Uttarakhand have been emptied of the young, who have left in search of better livelihoods — the message is dispiriting: Merit and hard work count for little in a system that can be so easily rigged. In this context, Chief Minister Dhami’s response to the protests seems particularly tone-deaf — and troubling. He has resorted to communal dog whistle politics, labelling it “nakal jihad”. Announcing an SIT to investigate the incident, he has attempted to discredit the protesters for “anti-national and anti-sanatan” slogans. His attempts to deflect and divert — “…the youth are wise and nationalistic as our state shares borders with two countries, and they belong to Devbhoomi, so they will move forward with these ideals”, the CM said — reek not merely of gaslighting but of a disregard for the shared frustration and distress of those out on the streets, across religions.
In recent years, competitive examinations have been compromised across states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, each case leaving behind a trail of disillusioned aspirants, their trust in the public recruitment system chipped away by corruption. The September 21 examination in Uttarakhand, meant to fill 416 vacancies across positions such as patwari, lekhpal and village development officer, saw over 40,000 candidates appear in 121 centres across Dehradun alone. In a country where nearly 65 per cent of the population is under the age of 35, the turnout reflects the desperation of a generation navigating a fragile job market, where government employment remains one of the few perceived lifelines to social mobility and economic stability.
The burden is on the state to expand opportunities. It will take more than ritual investigations, lip service or attempts to deflect from the issue at hand. It needs compassion and sincerity of intent. Uttarakhand’s youth deserve a future that isn’t sabotaged by the incompetence — and cynicism — of the powerful.
