Protest Details

1. What is Protest about?

The protest is centered around the concerns regarding the UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam 2023 and specifically the unfairness of CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) component. Participants in the protest are raising their voices to address issues they believe may affect the fairness, transparency, and inclusivity of the examination process. The protest aims to bring attention to these grievances and advocate for necessary reforms or changes in the examination system. 

See 'FAQs' and 'Our Demands' section for more details on why this protest is must.

2. Is peaceful protest illegal in India? I am disciplined and sincere student and I have fear of FIR, that can ruin my career further.

Article 19(1)(c) of the constitution of India quoted that - The Right to peaceably assemble allows people to question and object to acts of the government by demonstrations, agitations and public meetings, to launch sustained protest movements.

As long as you are peacefully expressing your voice, it is not illegal.

3. Does my career get effected due to protest ? Our matter is already in court. Can we do peaceful protest now ?

Had Only Exercised His Fundamental Right To Protest': Madras High Court .

Protests OK even on matters before court, but roads can’t be blocked: Supreme Court  

Right to protests in India

4. Where is the protest site and why that location ?

New Delhi is India's capital. It hosts UPSC office, Parliament, Ministries and Departments (DoPT). Previous protests also happened here.

5. Can Females participate in the protest? My parents/husband have safety concerns. Are these concerns addressed ?

Absolutely, everyone is welcome to join regardless of gender.

You can come with your brother/parents/husband. UPSC is not just your dream it’s also a dream of your loved ones. Female candidates have joined and are on the way with their husband/parents. So you can do too.

Regarding Safety concerns, we covered it in detail in below section. We have also arranged appropriate facilities for safety.

6. As a Female UPSC aspirant I haven’t visited New Delhi. How can I bring myself out of comfort zone?

See FAQs section as to why you need to support this movement. We can understand your problem. If you have faced the injustice done by UPSC, then you should fight for yourself. When female candidates participate in protests, the protest gets enormous strength and emotional appeal. You have to leave your comfort zone. Female candidates have been coming to our Delhi protest, from more than 2000 km away.

7. As a Male Candidate, my Parents are not allowing me to Join the protest. What can I do ?

Even female candidates are also participating in the protest. Thus, you are in an even better position to explain it to your parents. 

See 'FAQs' and 'Our Demands' section for more details on why this protest is must.

8. What is the process to join the protest? Do I need to register beforehand?

Contact CMS (Central Messaging System) on telegram at @UnfairCSAT_23 & send your contact details.

Generally, registration is not required, but it might be helpful for organizers to have an estimate of attendees.

9. Can I join alone or do I need to be part of a group?

You can join alone or with a group of like-minded individuals. You can also bring along your friends. Everybody is most welcome.

10. What should I bring with me to the protest?

You can Carry signs, water, snacks, and wear comfortable clothing. Check our main group regularly for more info. 

11. Will there be restrooms and food facility available during the protest?

Restroom availability will be arranged by the organizers, usually at nearby facilities. Contact CMS.

12. Is there a financial assistance available (i.e. Travelling ticket, Stay, etc.) ?

The availability of financial support will depend on the funding and the number of applicants. If you have genuine need of financial assistance regarding tickets, we will try our best to support you.

13. Can I offer help to others fellow aspirants who need financial assistance?

Absolutely. Contact CMS (Central Messaging System) in telegram @UnfatCSAT_23.

14. How can I stay updated on protest details and changes?

Follow the protest's official telegram or twitter handle for updates.

15. What should I do if I encounter any issues during the protest?

Approach the organizers or volunteers (Core team members) for assistance and report any concerns. We have arranged appropriate facilities for female candidates for their security.

16. I am an SSC/BPSC/RBI/UPPSC/EPFO etc. aspirant can I join it?

Absolutely, everyone is welcome to join regardless of your exam. As you are student and citizen of the country & this is all about for genuine cause and injustice for student community.

See you all in the Protest. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Most of the parents of women aspirants are concerned about women security issues in Delhi. This might be a factor that female candidates are facing issues in getting permission to protest in Delhi. Here are a few arguments to put in front of them.

1. Maximum Police force in the National capital. Highest presence in India in terms of Total  police per 100 Sq. Km. of Area. That too I am talking about Police forces. In Delhi you will be able to see CAPF and other forces also. Chapters.pmd (bprd.nic.in) (page 5)

2. Many students stay in clusters, say IIT aspirants, Indian Engineering services aspirants; in the areas of Begu Sarai, Hauz Khas apart from Karol Baugh, Old Rajinder Nagar & Mukharjee Nagar. Other student areas are around Delhi University, JNU etc.

Due to such a huge presence, Delhi Police has some smart policing systems.

2. 1. 1. Student areas like ORN, Mukherjee Nagar Security: Residential areas are cordoned off in the night after 10pm. Only one entry & exit point in the area during night. This point is usually put in place in front of Local Police Chowki. Students are aware of the famous Police station in the heart of the ORN area. Currently revamped as Pink Booth-All women assistance booth. Locate here: 10 Bada Bazar Rd - Google Maps

      2. Patrolling: If you are a nocturnal student; you might have observed Police Patrolling across all boulevards & main roads every few hours till early morning. Sometimes they would stop & offer help in emergency times.

      3. CCTV is installed at almost every entry exit point of buildings, across tea points, gardens etc.

      4. Lightening : It’s a national capital region; it's difficult to find low lit areas where students reside. (Low lit area issues exist on border areas of Delhi, where many state boundaries merge)

3. Transport: Empowering experience.

Buses:

1. Free for women commuters, you will just need to collect a Pink Slip as a ticket. (If you still want to purchase it then you can)

2. Probably you will see that maximum bus commuters are women.

3. Each bus is GPS loaded, you can see movement on the Google map or their Chartr App. (It works.)

4. Female/Male Bus Marshall are police who are always present in the bus. They help immediately.

5. There is a panic button on the bus. Even if mistakenly pressed, Alarm goes on; everyone gets alerted & Bus driver would stop the bus immediately. (observed personally)

6. Bus stops are equipped with Good Public Toilets, women areas have supervisors.

7. Bus stop areas have CCTVs as well.

8. Buses follow strict Road & Traffic Rules. They would open doors only on Public Bus Stops. But say it is late in the evening & you are a woman commuter, then they would most probably bend the rules & help you get in the public bus. (Bending rules by bus drivers means they get charged on their salary!) So still, it's an overall empowering experience.

Metro:

1. It is a paid commutation, there are Police on the Metro station Entry points.

2. Segregated Male Female Security frisking points. Female frisking points secured with curtains for privacy.

3. X ray baggage Checking System at frisking points.

4. Platforms have CCTV areas.

5. Around the women's compartments coach you will see Metro’s own security  guards.

General:

1. Ola, Uber with panic buttons, on some vehicles it exists, some don't as they are private. But in the Government transport system it is not the case.

2. You will see Pink Booths on the sides of the roads, shopping areas, commuting areas.

3. Mohalla Clinics for affordable & accessible.

4. In case of emergency, private hospitals offer free/meager cost medical assistance at their emergency wards.

5. Police vehicles, bikes are almost casual to see.

6. On mobile phones you will see IMD pollution alerts, flood alerts Or you may just google it yourself.

7. At Jantar Mantar: They had Women Police too. Law & order is quite in place.

8. Many Police HQs, DM, SDM, PM, Ministers reside here. All are serious about women's safety.

9. Many tourist footfalls in Delhi, Lone women tourists you can see wandering freely at Public spots, heritage sites etc.

10. If you have smartphones, you can always video call your parents about your safety. Free WiFi is available at public places.

There are better chances of women related issues to get registered than your own areas, after all it's a National Capital.

The NCRB report does point out incremental reporting of crimes against women; this may reflect insecurity hovering around women safety.

But try to see the flipside that areas with low reporting might be more harmful than reported ones. Simply because it’s not easy to register FIR, police become accountable for the action taken. And you know women incidents met with resistance, many times not registered. (remember the recent Manipur Incidence?)

High number of reporting of women cases also mean that the Women Grievance System might be working. It also means that the process of legal justice is put in place.

Above everything, your gender should not come in between your freedom of movement. That’s your basic fundamental civic right.

Women's voices have given higher weightage because they are seen as a basic unit of change. I appeal to all the women aspirants to join this movement by showing your ground presence.

It’s a welcoming place, it’s your National Capital. Surely come and participate, get inspired by leaders like Gandhiji, S. Bose etcetera. Come here, get inspired, say Hello to your PM, MP, MLA, CJI and to us.

I also appeal to Male aspirants to help their fellow female friends to join this protest. Visit each other's parents in a group, inform them about this cause, show them your unity as friends, brothers, sisters. If possible, invite parents also.

Information on stay for female aspirants can be accessed by contacting our zonal groups or CMS on telegram at @UnfairCSAT_23.