Chaos and Controversy: SSC Exam Aspirants and Teachers Protest Over Mismanagement and Technical Glitches

Once again, the streets near Parliament and Jantar Mantar in Delhi have become the site of protests — this time by SSC (Staff Selection Commission) exam aspirants and teachers. Their demand is simple but critical: fix the rapidly deteriorating SSC examination system that, according to them, is plagued with mismanagement, technical failures, and indifference to student welfare.

A System in Disarray: From Registration to Results

Protesters argue that just applying for the SSC exam has become a challenge. This year, the introduction of Aadhaar-based biometric authentication caused major hurdles, with lakhs of students unable to complete the registration due to technical failures. As a result, applications dropped sharply from 3.6 million last year to just 2.8 million this year. Many were unable to upload their biometrics, and the window for correction or resolution was too short.

But the chaos did not end there. Changes in the exam conducting body and fragmentation of responsibilities among separate agencies (for examination centers, question papers, and software) have only exacerbated the chaos. Admit cards — essential for planning travel and accommodation — were released just days before the exam, with some students receiving centers hundreds of kilometers away, including Andaman & Nicobar islands and remote parts of the country. Such distances are impossible for candidates, especially women and differently-abled candidates, to cover on short notice and tight budgets.

Exam Day Nightmares: Malfunctioning Systems and Shocking Stories

On exam day, things often went from bad to worse. Students reported missing or changed exam centers, some found the exam center address blank on their admit cards, and others traveled long distances only to find their center or entire exam shift canceled due to “technical errors.” In some places, as mentioned by multiple protestors, exam centers were so remote that even basic transportation was unavailable — candidates had to travel on foot.

Those who made it inside the exam hall described scenes of utter mismanagement: non-functioning computers, broken mice or keyboards, questions not properly displayed on screens, and even biometrics failing at the entry point, disqualifying many from taking the test. Shockingly, students have found question paper pages in restrooms and reported staff making video reels or even accepting bribes to manipulate results.

Physical altercations and mistreatment by staff have added insult to injury, with claims that even teachers, who accompanied students and attempted to get their voices heard, were lathi-charged and detained by police. Aspirants confessed that their trust in the system was so eroded, the previous exam conducting agency TCS — once criticized for tough papers — now seems preferable simply because at least exams were held with basic order!

Teachers on the Streets: A Movement for Students’ Rights

The presence of teachers from across the country in these protests is a sign of just how serious the breakdown is. Speaking to media, they said that their only demand was a meeting with the DOPT (Department of Personnel & Training) Minister to communicate student grievances directly. Instead, many teachers were detained and dispersed, intensifying anger and disappointment.

The teachers feel compelled to join their students on the streets, arguing that when students’ futures are at stake due to systemic mismanagement, their moral obligation is to intervene. As youth after youth described the financial and emotional costs of traveling hundreds of kilometers, only to encounter faulty or canceled exams, the scale of the crisis became painfully clear.

Repeated Promises, No Reforms

Many protestors pointed out that this is not the first time SSC has faced allegations of incompetence and corruption. Large-scale protests in past years had prompted promises of reforms, but little has changed. If anything, they argue, new layers of inefficiency have been added by outsourcing to agencies with questionable track records — some even blacklisted previously for exam scams.

Demands and the Road Ahead

At the heart of the protest is a demand for accountability and transparency. Aspirants and teachers want:

A full review and reform of the exam conducting system
Timely and clear communication about exam dates, centers, and shifts
Centres assigned within reasonable distances, as per student preferences
Action against agencies and individuals responsible for technical and administrative lapses
An end to police force against peaceful protestors
A direct dialogue with government officials for student welfare

Conclusion:

As monsoon rains drench the protest site, the resolve of protesting students and teachers only seems to grow. Their message is clear: the future of millions cannot be left to a broken system. Until systemic reforms are implemented, they vow to continue their fight — not for personal gain, but for the integrity of India’s competitive exam framework and the dreams of the country’s youth.