Cancellations, glitches, wrong exam centre: Here’s why SSC aspirants are protesting in Delhi
Staff Selection Commission’s Selection Post Phase 13 examination was held between July 24 and August 1. The computer-based test was affected by abrupt cancellations, software crashes, biometric verification failures, and incorrect exam centre allotments.
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Students protesting outside the SSC office at the CGO complex in Lodhi Road in South Delhi. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)Massive disruptions during the Staff Selection Commission’s (SSC) Selection Post Phase 13 examination have triggered a wave of protests across Delhi this week, bringing thousands of aspirants to the streets and also resulting in a strong backlash on social media.
The aspirants protested at Jantar Mantar and the CGO Complex, demanding accountability from one of India’s largest recruitment bodies, following complaints of technical glitches and exam-day confusion. They have sought a complete review of the examination process, a rollback or reassessment of the vendor contract, and an independent investigation into the failures.
Held between July 24 and August 1, the computer-based Phase 13 examination process was allegedly marred by abrupt cancellations, software crashes, biometric verification failures, and incorrect exam centre allotments. Many candidates who had travelled long distances at their own expense to their examination centres were disappointed to note that their exams had been cancelled without prior notice.
The alleged mismanagement is largely attributed to a recent change in the Commission’s exam vendor. The protesters alleged that the new vendor lacked the experience and technical capacity to manage large-scale recruitment drives.
“The vendor’s failure to smoothly conduct even an examination like Phase 13 has intensified concerns,” said Ronak Khatri, president of Delhi University Students Union, who was among the agitators on Saturday.
Khatri told The Indian Express, “I was there at the protest to raise issues of the students. The exam centres were away, several students missed their exams and there were several technical glitches which did not allow students to perform to their best.”
The present crisis has also raised concerns among the aspirants of SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exam scheduled to begin on August 13.
Anger has spilled onto social media, with hashtags like #SSCMisManagement, #SSCSystemSudharo, and #JusticeForAspirants trending nationally. Students have shared images and videos from test centres and protest sites, highlighting instances of mismanagement and alleged mistreatment by security staff.
The crisis escalated with the emergence of viral clips showing clashes between students and officials at some centres. In several locations, aspirants claimed they were manhandled or removed from premises for questioning procedural lapses.
Aspirants and educators gathered this week in large numbers in New Delhi under the banner of a ‘Delhi Chalo’ campaign, raising a call for systemic reform. The protests took a more serious turn after reports emerged of police action at the demonstration sites. Students alleged that security personnel resorted to lathi charges to disperse crowds.
“…The first clash broke out near North Block, where many educators and teachers were picked up and forced into police buses… On July 31, there was a lathicharge and I was taken to Bawana police station…,” said Aditya Ranjan (29), a maths teacher from Rankers Gurukul, who was detained by the Delhi Police.
He added that after he was allowed to go by the police, he went to Jantar Mantar to join protesting students. “The police were not letting me meet the students, so we began raising slogans. The second lathicharge took place over there. I was injured… Around four to five policemen detained me and took me to Timarpur police station in a bus and I was released late in the night.”
When contacted, DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Mahla said, “The protesters were detained after they created a ruckus in an area where protests are not allowed. Despite giving them warnings, they still proceeded to march towards the Parliament, which is when they were detained. They were taken far from the protest site… The police did not manhandle any protesters.”
The SSC chairperson, S Gopalkrishnan, admitted that “there were a few issues and disruptions during the examinations”. “The new agency has been conducting the examination since July 24. Since this is the first time for this agency, the examination has faced technical glitches and other issues. There were procedural lapses at a few centres too. But we have taken cognizance of this and worked towards minimising the disruptions.”
“The exam conducted in the last three days has seen fewer disruptions. We will be working on minimising these disruptions and will gradually go towards having zero disruptions in the exam,” he added.
Gopalkrishnan further said, “We have collected data of instances of malpractices. Like for instance, if an applicant is finishing a test in 10 minutes with external help in case of a one-hour examination, we now have records of such malpractices… such applicants will not be selected.”
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