SSC Defends Exam Reforms Amid Protests, Says Technical Glitches Resolved; Accuses Coaching Lobby of Fueling Agitation
New Delhi, 26th August 2025: Facing mounting protests over alleged irregularities and technical glitches in government recruitment examinations, the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has defended its new examination reforms and assured candidates that upcoming tests will not face major disruptions.
SSC Chairman S. Gopalakrishnan acknowledged that the first selection post-exam conducted on July 24, the first after a major revamp of the exam process, did witness some technical issues. Around 5.5 lakh candidates appeared across 194 centres, but a handful faced errors such as duplication of questions and repetition of answer options. “These were isolated issues at only two centres and have since been stabilised,” Gopalakrishnan said, stressing that the system is now functioning smoothly.
The July exam marked a significant overhaul in SSC’s exam process. The commission replaced its long-time exam-conducting agency, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), with Eduquity, selected through a competitive bidding process. For the first time, multiple agencies now share responsibilities: Eduquity conducts the exams, independent content providers set the questions digitally, CDAC ensures cybersecurity and detects malpractice, while an independent monitoring agency oversees implementation.
“This multi-agency approach ensures no single entity can hijack or manipulate the examination process. Each agency faces deterrent penalties for underperformance,” Gopalakrishnan explained. He also highlighted that the reforms include Aadhaar-based authentication to prevent impersonation and multiple attempts by the same candidate, as well as safeguards against coaching centres exploiting repeated question patterns.
However, protests have erupted in recent weeks, with several candidates and opposition parties raising concerns about glitches and fairness.
