SSC Candidates Protest at Jantar Mantar Over Exam Irregularities and Center Issues

A large number of students gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to protest against recent irregularities and problems in the conduct of the SSC examinations. The candidates, many of whom had appeared for the Selection Post Phase 13 exam on the 25th of the month, shared their grievances and called for immediate reforms.

Problems with Exam Centers and Processes

According to Saurabh Jha, a candidate from Delhi, the vendor responsible for organizing the exam centers had been changed recently. Earlier, TCS was responsible for the management of exams, but the contract was handed over to a vendor that was previously blacklisted in 2022. “The new vendor lacks proper infrastructure and is arbitrarily assigning centers, sometimes in remote or unsuitable locations like animal sheds or far-flung villages,” he said.

This, he explained, has resulted in candidates facing technical issues such as server failures and poor management. “Some students were even threatened with disqualification if they raised objections to server problems,” Saurabh claimed, adding that in some centers, students were reportedly assaulted or mistreated by staff and no action was taken despite police presence.

Another candidate, Himanshu, recounted how he struggled to locate his exam center in Meerut, spending hours searching for it before finally finding it just before the exam. However, due to mismanagement, his exam status for multiple tests remained unclear, and he missed his opportunity to appear for them.

Similarly, Deepak from New Delhi shared his experience of reaching his designated center in Ajmer, only to be told that his exam was canceled. Upon rechecking, he discovered his center had suddenly been shifted to Leh-Ladakh with no prior notice. “How can someone be expected to book a flight to Ladakh at the last minute, or should they simply sacrifice their future?” Deepak asked, expressing his disappointment and loss of faith in the system. He also mentioned that four other students faced the same issue, resulting in a loss of opportunity for all of them.

Technical Issues and Security Concerns

Parshuram Jayal described that at his center, the infrastructure was poor, with technical issues such as malfunctioning computers and inadequate supervision. At some centers, he said, the invigilators were even making social media reels inside the exam halls, and the level of security was questionable.

Haresh Tiwari, a teacher from Gwalior, highlighted that in Madhya Pradesh, the same vendor (already blacklisted after a previous examination scam) was once again entrusted with the contract. He expressed concern over last-minute center allocations in far-off locations like Andaman and Nicobar Islands, providing barely enough time for candidates to arrange travel.

Raj Babu from Delhi recounted issues with poor-quality exam stationery, malfunctioning equipment, and delays that cost him crucial exam time. He emphasized that the authorities must address these shortcomings immediately.

Teachers Demand Re-examination

A teacher, Amosh Sharma, added that teachers and coaching staff were present to support the protesting students and called for the exams that were adversely affected by these irregularities to be reconducted. He clarified: “We are not here for a sit-in protest but to make the government aware of these issues. The exams that were mishandled must be conducted again.”

Authorities Respond with Security

The protest at Jantar Mantar was met with heavy police deployment and security arrangements. Authorities have urged students to conclude their demonstration peacefully by the 5 PM deadline.

Students’ Demands

The protesting candidates have collectively demanded the removal of the blacklisted vendor, a return to established and reliable exam organizers like TCS, and major reforms to ensure transparency, proper infrastructure, timely communication of exam center details, and better security at exam locations.

As the students continue their peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar, all eyes are on how the authorities respond and whether necessary reforms will be implemented to restore students’ faith in the examination system.