Mizoram student body protests against alleged issues in MPSC online registration

Students under the apex Mizo Students’ body, Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), clashed with police in Aizawl on Monday while trying to block entry to the office of the Mizoram Public Service Commission (MPSC). The agitation followed an earlier peaceful demonstration. On Wednesday, MZP called off its ongoing protest after the government constituted a panel to reform the commission.

Grievance focuses on MPSC’s One Time Registration portal

The dispute is linked to the MPSC’s online One Time Registration (OTR) system. The portal is designed so job aspirants can upload personal details and documents once, and then use the same records for multiple recruitment exams. MZP says, in practice, the system has caused eligible candidates to lose their chance at government jobs due to technical and upload-related problems, including errors connected to OTR 2.0.

MZP president C Lalremuata said the group has repeatedly raised complaints with MPSC officials after meetings, but the issues were not fully resolved. He alleged that even after improvements discussed by the Commission, many students were still being dropped from the recruitment process. MZP also said it submitted its demands to the MPSC chairman without receiving a substantive response.

Students say rejection happens after exams

One aspirant highlighted what he described as a sequencing problem. He alleged that candidates with incomplete uploads were still allowed to take the exam, and only later found out that their names were not considered for recruitment. He also pointed to a case where rejection was linked to a missed upload of a Diploma in Computer Application (DCA) certificate.

MZP’s demands are specific: it wants the OTR system scrapped and replaced with a need-based application process. It is also asking that candidates who are disqualified due to incomplete document uploads be given an offline chance to submit the missing paperwork. The group further called for a formal reform committee or commission, appointed by the state government, to overhaul the recruitment process beyond the portal.

In relation to technical failures, the MPSC had earlier issued a public notice listing a helpline number for applicants whose applications remained stuck in draft mode after payment. When the number was called as part of verification, the call did not connect. MZP described the handling of Monday’s protest as restrained, while also raising concerns that officials attempted to enter the office and that police forces were used.