SSC CGL 2025 to Be Held in Single Shift, Centres Within 100 km Radius, says SSC Chairman

SSC Chairman has said that SSC CGL 2025 will be held in a single shift and centres within 100 km; four-agency model to avoid exam glitches.

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has promised a smoother experience for candidates in its upcoming recruitment exams, after the technical chaos during the Selection Post Phase XIII exam earlier this year left thousands of aspirants frustrated.

SSC Chairman S. Gopalakrishnan has said that the commission has decided to conduct the SSC CGL Tier-1 exam 2025 in a single shift instead of multiple sessions. He also announced that exam centres will now be allotted within 100 km of candidates’ homes, a step aimed at reducing the stress of long-distance travel that had forced many students to miss exams in the past, reported Navbharat Times.

The SSC Chairman admitted that the vendor transition from TCS to Eduquity led to system crashes, slow Aadhaar verification, and repeated disruptions during the SSC July exams.

The Chairman said the commission will now adopt a four-agency model, where different responsibilities such as question paper setting, exam infrastructure, and delivery will be split among multiple partners to avoid dependence on one vendor.

The move comes after days of protests by candidates and teachers under the hashtag #SSCMisManagement, where students highlighted poor arrangements and sudden cancellations. The situation worsened when police action was reported against aspirants protesting in Delhi. Many also complained that despite travelling hundreds of kilometres, they were unable to sit for the test due to faulty biometric systems.

Exam Integrity Under Question

Adding to candidates’ concerns, SSC recently released a list of 1,804 tainted candidates involved in the cash-for-jobs scandal, after a Supreme Court order. This has further raised questions over the transparency of recruitment. Aspirants fear that repeated mismanagement could harm their career prospects, with exams being the only gateway to secure government jobs.

New SSC CGL Dates Expected in September

The SSC CGL Tier-1 exam, which was scheduled between August 13 and 30, 2025, has now been postponed. The revised schedule is expected to be declared in the first week of September, with admit cards likely just a few days before the exam. Candidates will also have to familiarise themselves with SSC’s new Sliding Scheme, introduced this year to ensure quicker filling of vacancies.

Gopalakrishnan added that the commission has “learned its lessons” and will ensure that the “glitches of July will not be repeated.” For lakhs of aspirants waiting to appear in the CGL exam, the reforms are a relief—but the real test for SSC will be in restoring trust on exam day.

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