Chennai: Despite bandh like situation in the city on Tuesday, over 900 candidates appeared for Union Public Service Commission's (UPSC) civil service main exam in four centres.
The main exam is being conducted from December 3 to 9. General studies III and IV papers were scheduled on Tuesday. Following the demise of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Monday night, parents and candidates spent anxious movements thinking about their exam.
"But we expected the exam to take place as UPSC had refused to change exam dates even after floods in the city last year," a civil service aspirant who wrote the exam in Ashok Nagar said. "We had fears about venturing outside as there would be no buses, autos and cabs. In the morning we travelled in two-wheelers to reach the exam centres," he said.
He also said the news distracted him from preparing the exam. "But after entering the hall we all felt normal. The two papers general studies III and IV also were on the expected lines," he added. Police also gave protection to the civil service exam centres in the city.
"With no buses or autos, we thought many students would arrive late to the exam centres. To my surprise more than 50 per cent candidates waited outside the exam hall as soon as 7 am in the morning," a government school headmaster said.
Totally, 288 candidates were allotted to that exam centre. "Except for one candidate, 287 candidates came to the exam centre before the scheduled time," she said.
The absent candidate did not appear on Monday exam as well. All four exam centres have witnessed nearly 99 per cent attendance on Tuesday. Some women candidates said they faced difficulties in reaching the exam centres.
