KKN Gurugram Desk | The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC) has come under sharp public scrutiny after announcing a recruitment drive for Assistant Professor (B.Ed) posts in aided non-government colleges, with an application fee that is reportedly 20 times higher than that of the IAS and PCS exams.

According to Advertisement No. 51, the Commission has invited online applications for 107 posts of Assistant Professor in Education (B.Ed) till June 13, 2025. However, the application fee of ₹2000 for General, EWS, and OBC candidates, and ₹1000 for SC/ST categories, has triggered widespread criticism and online protests from job aspirants across the state.

Comparison: Fee Hike Far Exceeds UPSC, UPPSC, SSC Application Costs

In a country where the most prestigious exams like the IAS (UPSC) charge a nominal application fee of ₹100, the ₹2000 fee tag for a teaching post at the state level has shocked many.

Here’s a side-by-side fee comparison for better perspective:

This comparison has led to a growing sentiment that the fee structure is exclusionary, especially for students from economically weaker and rural backgrounds aspiring for careers in education.

Application Process and Eligibility Criteria: What You Need to Know

 Last Date to Apply: June 13, 2025

 Application Mode: Online at upessc.org (Fictional URL for example only)

 Total Vacancies: 107 (B.Ed. subject)

 Eligibility Requirements:

• Postgraduate degree in Education (B.Ed) or related subject with minimum qualifying marks.

• Must fulfill UGC norms for Assistant Professor appointments in higher education institutions.

• NET/Ph.D. qualification as per UGC 2018 regulation (or subsequent amendments).

Fee Justification Missing: No Transparent Breakdown by Commission

The UPESSC has not issued any official justification or breakdown for the steep fee hike. This has only added to the confusion and resentment among candidates.

Experts suggest that such high fees may be intended to:

• Offset administrative and IT costs for the newly formed commission

• Reduce the number of “non-serious” applicants

• Cover third-party technical or infrastructure expenses

However, none of these explanations have been made public, which has further fueled distrust in the process.

Students and Aspirants Protest Online, Demand Rollback

Thousands of aspirants took to Twitter, Facebook, and local news forums to express dismay over the unaffordable fee. Popular hashtags like #ReduceFeeUPESSC and #JusticeForPoorAspirants trended locally in Uttar Pradesh.

Common Concerns Raised:

• “Why is becoming an IAS officer cheaper than becoming a B.Ed. Assistant Professor?”

• “Is education service only for the rich now?”

• “UP government must not treat teaching jobs as revenue sources.”

• “This is killing the dreams of rural and lower-income students.”

Many demanded fee parity with exams like UPPSC or SSC, which also conduct computer-based exams, offer secure jobs, but maintain nominal application costs.

Why This Matters: The Case for Affordable Exams in Public Service

Public service exams in India are meant to be accessible to all, particularly those from underserved backgrounds. By raising the cost of application:

• Equal opportunity is compromised

• Talent may be lost due to inability to pay

• It goes against the spirit of inclusive governance in education

Moreover, teaching is already a low-paying and under-recognized profession compared to administrative services. Burdening candidates financially at the very start of their journey may further discourage capable individuals from joining the education sector.

Understanding the Role of the UP Education Service Selection Commission

The UP Education Service Selection Commission is a newly established body tasked with recruiting teachers and faculty for aided institutions across Uttar Pradesh.

It aims to streamline teacher recruitment, maintain quality benchmarks, and eliminate irregularities. However, its first major recruitment drive has faced severe backlash due to the high application fees.

What Experts and Academicians Are Saying

Educationists, civil society members, and former bureaucrats have also criticized the move. Some of the key concerns include:

• Disproportionate fee structure in comparison to job responsibilities

• Lack of standardization across recruiting bodies

• Potential legal challenges if aspirants file a PIL (Public Interest Litigation)

An RTI (Right to Information) request is already in circulation demanding full disclosure of how the ₹2000 fee is allocated or justified.

Could This Affect Future Recruitment?

Yes. If protests continue and no fee revision is made:

• The number of applications may drop drastically

• The credibility of UPESSC may be undermined

• Judicial intervention or a government directive may force a rollback

It is likely that the Chief Minister‘s Office or Education Ministry will step in if public pressure increases in the coming week.

Comparative Case Studies: Fee Policies Across India

Let’s look at how other state commissions handle fee structures for teaching and academic posts:

The data clearly shows that Uttar Pradesh is an outlier, and not in a good way.

The UP Assistant Professor B.Ed. recruitment should have been a landmark initiative for improving educational standards in the state. Instead, it has turned into a controversial flashpoint because of a poorly justified application fee.

If the government is serious about promoting teaching as a noble and accessible profession, it must ensure that the path to becoming a teacher is not financially exclusionary.

Until then, the current backlash is likely to intensify — both on the ground and online — with possible legal and political ramifications.