SSC Aspirants Protest at Jantar Mantar Over Exam Irregularities and Mismanagement

New Delhi – Hundreds of SSC (Staff Selection Commission) aspirants staged a protest at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, raising concerns about serious irregularities and mismanagement during recent SSC examinations. The protest comes after repeated complaints of server failures, sudden venue changes, and physical mistreatment of students at examination centers.

Students Speak Out

Saurabh Jha, a protester from Delhi, explained, “Earlier, exams were conducted smoothly by TCS, but now the contract has been handed over to a vendor who was blacklisted in 2022. This company has neither the required infrastructure nor sufficient exam centers. They assign exam centers in unsuitable places—sometimes even in cattle sheds or remote villages. Students are facing server failures and some have even been threatened or beaten when they complain.”

He added that the problems first appeared during the Selection Post Phase 13 examination and could continue into upcoming exams like CGL if not addressed. “We want this vendor removed and a reliable exam organizer reinstated. SSC must inspect each center personally before allotting it for exams,” he said.

Confusion and Hardship at Centers

Another candidate, Himanshu, described his ordeal on 25th June. “My center was in Meerut. Despite arriving an hour early, I spent hours searching because the center’s location was unclear even to the local police. My exam status is still pending for several attempts, so I don’t even know where to write my next exam.”

Deepak from New Delhi faced a sudden center change. “I traveled to Ajmer for my exam, only to discover it had been canceled. When I re-checked the SSC website, I found my center had instantly been shifted to Leh-Ladakh with no prior notice. Are we expected to book a last-minute flight or just let our careers die?” He said at least five fellow candidates at his center faced a similar fate.

Technical Glitches and Poor Facilities

Other complaints included poor paper and pen quality, technical issues such as malfunctioning mice, and invigilators making social media reels inside exam halls instead of supervising. Raj Babu from Delhi commented, “My exam answer sheet was of such bad quality it was tearing apart, my mouse didn’t work for half the allotted exam time, and the conditions were just chaotic.”

Teachers Join in Solidarity

Teacher Amosh Sharma said that many educators had joined the demonstration to demand a fair solution. “We’re not here for a sit-in, but to send a clear message to the government. Exams that were mishandled must be held again, and the systemic issues must be fixed,” he said.

Demands and Security Measures

The protesters’ main demand is for SSC to replace the alleged blacklisted vendor, rectify technical and infrastructural failures, and ensure transparent, student-friendly processes for all future exams.

Delhi Police deployed extra security forces at Jantar Mantar as a precaution and set a 5:00 PM deadline for the protest to disperse peacefully. Despite these measures, students remained determined to voice their grievances until real action is taken.

As the day unfolded, the protest highlighted the growing frustration and anxiety among India’s competitive exam aspirants—calling for urgent reforms and accountability in the examination system.