Prayagraj: Thousands of candidates who qualify in preliminary examinations conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) may soon be spared the requirement of physically submitting documents before appearing for the mains examination, as the commission is planning to introduce a digital verification system.The move comes as part of the UPPSC’s broader push towards technology driven recruitment and follows its plan to introduce digital evaluation of answer sheets.At present, candidates are required to upload their documents on the commission’s portal and also send or submit hard copies within a stipulated period.Officials said the system often poses difficulties for candidates living in remote areas. In some cases, aspirants successfully uploaded their documents online but failed to ensure that physical copies reached the commission before the deadline, leading to the cancellation of their candidature.Under the proposed mechanism, documents will be verified through DigiLocker and other digital platforms. Officials will then determine whether candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the posts concerned.The initiative assumes significance as the commission is expected to launch several major recruitment drives in the coming months, including the long-awaited recruitment of block education officers (BEOs).The basic education department has begun preparations to send the requisition to the commission after resolving issues related to eligibility criteria. State govt has clarified that no qualification other than BEd will be treated as an equivalent degree for the post.Officials are currently verifying vacancy and reservation details before forwarding the requisition. Sources said the process is likely to be completed before Aug 15.More than 350 posts are currently vacant against the sanctioned strength of 1,031 BEO posts. The vacancies increased further after 164 BEOs were promoted as basic shiksha adhikaris (BSAs) and to equivalent posts on May 26.The commission had earlier returned the department’s requisition as the relevant service rules had not been amended. The last recruitment drive for 309 BEO posts was conducted in 2019 and had attracted more than five lakh applicants. .
