Why Andhra Pradesh Teacher Recruitment Has Triggered Widespread Protests

A major dispute over Andhra Pradesh's teacher recruitment process has brought hundreds of job aspirants onto the streets, with allegations of irregularities in the mega District Selection Committee (DSC) recruitment drive.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has intensified its campaign over the issue, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and the resignation of Education Minister Nara Lokesh. The ruling government, however, has rejected the allegations and maintained that the recruitment process was conducted using multiple safeguards.

How the Teacher Recruitment Dispute Began

After the Chandrababu Naidu-led government came to power in 2024, it cancelled an earlier recruitment process involving 6,100 teacher vacancies and announced a much larger recruitment exercise.

In April 2025, the government notified 16,347 teacher vacancies. Around 3.36 lakh candidates subsequently applied for the posts.

The computer-based recruitment examination was conducted between June 6 and July 2. Following the selection process, 15,941 posts were filled.

The process later came under scrutiny, with hundreds of legal cases being filed and candidates raising questions about the way the examination and selection were conducted.

What Are Candidates Alleging?

One of the major complaints concerns the authority responsible for conducting the examination.

Traditionally, the DSC convener handled the examination, while the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) was involved in preparing the question papers. Protesters allege that the process was changed under the current government, with the Director of SCERT being given greater responsibility.

Candidates have also raised concerns over the alleged involvement of outsourcing and contractual staff in the preparation and uploading of question papers.

The name of P Naveen, an SCERT contract employee who reportedly secured high ranks in certain categories, has become part of the controversy. The government has denied that Naveen had any role in question-paper preparation, examination management, evaluation, normalisation or preparation of the merit list.

Questions Over Merit Lists and Transparency

Another major issue raised by aspirants relates to the centralisation of the recruitment process.

Candidates claim that important information such as marks, district-level ranks, cut-offs, roster positions and merit lists was not made publicly available in the same manner as in earlier recruitment exercises.

Some candidates have also alleged that they received call letters and appeared for certificate verification but were not included in the final selection list.

The government has countered that certificate verification was only a provisional stage. Officials say candidates were required to clear further checks involving original documents, eligibility, reservation claims and local status before final appointments were made.

Sports Quota Becomes Another Flashpoint

The recruitment of candidates under the Meritorious Sports Persons (MSP) quota has added another layer to the controversy.

The YSRCP and protesting aspirants have alleged that some sportspersons were able to secure teaching positions without appearing for the DSC written examination. The Opposition has described the provision as a possible route around the regular merit-based examination.

The government has rejected the allegations and said the appointments were made under the applicable rules. It has pointed to Government Order MS No. 77, which provides 3% horizontal reservation for eligible sportspersons in direct recruitment without a written competitive examination.

Several legal cases have also been linked to sports quota appointments.

Government Defends Examination Process

The Andhra Pradesh government has maintained that the recruitment examination was conducted through a computer-based testing system designed to prevent manipulation.

According to the government, the process included encrypted systems, restricted access, randomised question-paper allocation and examinations conducted across multiple sessions.

Officials have also argued that different question papers were used in different sessions, making a conventional paper leak technically impossible.

The government has further denied claims that candidates were arbitrarily removed from merit lists.

YSRCP Demands CBI Investigation

The controversy has now moved beyond the recruitment process and become a major political confrontation.

The YSRCP organised a statewide bandh and has demanded a CBI investigation into the allegations. The Opposition has also targeted Education Minister Nara Lokesh and called for his resignation.

YSRCP leaders have portrayed the agitation as a youth-led movement over government jobs and transparency in recruitment.

Lokesh and the state government have rejected this characterisation and accused the Opposition of attempting to politically exploit the grievances of candidates.

What Happens Next?

With numerous cases already before the courts and political pressure continuing to build, the teacher recruitment controversy is likely to remain a major issue in Andhra Pradesh.

At the centre of the dispute are questions over examination procedures, merit lists, sports quota appointments and transparency. While protesters are seeking an independent investigation, the government insists that the recruitment was conducted according to established rules and with adequate technological safeguards.

The final outcome of the ongoing legal proceedings and any further government action could determine whether the controversy is resolved through the courts or develops into a larger political issue in the state.