The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission on Tuesday cancelled the main Provincial Civil Services examination scheduled for the day after invigilators distributed the wrong set of question papers at one of the centres in Allahabad, the Hindustan Times reported.

The invigilators at Government Inter College distributed the question paper for essay writing instead of General Hindi during the morning session. “The date of conducting the cancelled exams would be announced later,” said the commission’s secretary Jagdish. “Rest of the exams would take place as per pre-announced schedule.”

Candidates alleged that some of the invigilators forced them to answer the essay question paper after they pointed out the blunder. They staged a protest and marched to the residence of the commission’s chairperson and its headquarters. The police reportedly had to use force to disperse them.

The examination began on Monday at 11 centres in Lucknow and 17 in Allahabad and was scheduled to continue till Wednesday.