SSC Aspirants’ Protest at Ramlila Maidan Over Exam Irregularities; Allegations of Police Action Surface

SSC aspirants staged a massive protest at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Aug 24 over exam mismanagement and vendor failures. Allegations of police action surfaced on social media; SSC is yet to respond.

The Ramlila Maidan in Delhi witnessed a massive protest on Sunday as thousands of SSC (Staff Selection Commission) aspirants and teachers across the country gathered under the banner of Chhatra Maha Andolan. The protest, which was called to highlight alleged irregularities in the recent SSC examinations, has now triggered a storm on social media after allegations surfaced that police used force to disperse protesters.

The protest was organised regarding various issues during SSC Selection Post Phase 13 examination, held between July 24 and August 1. The students alleged abrupt cancellations, technical glitches, biometric failures, and mismanagement at exam centres. Many candidates said that despite spending years preparing for the exams, their futures were being jeopardized due to poor administration.

A major flashpoint has been the role of exam vendor, Eduquity Career Technologies, contracted to conduct SSC exams. SSC Aspirants and teachers have accused the vendor of lacking proper infrastructure, citing poor exam centre allocation, technical breakdowns, and logistical hardships for candidates, particularly those coming from rural areas. Teachers and student groups have argued that such failures are not just technical lapses but reflect systemic negligence.

At Ramlila Maidan, the protest reportedly escalated when police intervened. Several videos and posts on X (formerly Twitter) alleged that police resorted to lathi charge to disperse students. One video shared by Nirmal Choudhary claimed to show police action, while another by Akash Sharma described the incident as “heart-wrenching.” Users such as @seromsit and @KamitMaurya condemned the alleged crackdown, with many arguing that students are being unfairly targeted for demanding accountability. However, these claims remain unverified as of now.

Anger has also grown from repeated exam irregularities in recent years, including errors in question papers, discrepancies in answer keys, delays in declaring results, and lack of proper grievance redressal. Students said that these recurring issues have eroded trust in the SSC recruitment process. The hashtag #SSCMisManagement has been trending nationwide, with educators and students mobilising support online in recent weeks.

According to reports, nearly 1,500 people participated in the protest, and around 44 individuals were detained once the permitted time at the venue ended. Protesters have called the detentions illegal and accused the authorities of attempting to silence dissent.

Till now, neither the SSC nor the Delhi Police has issued an official statement on the allegations of police action at Ramlila Maidan. Meanwhile, student groups and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) have demanded an inquiry, immediate vendor replacement, and transparent reforms in the recruitment process.