SSC Chairman Defends Eduquity Over TCS in Tender Row; Aspirants Slam Exam Glitches

SSC Chairman S. Gopalakrishnan expalins why Eduquity won over TCS in the SSC exam conducting tender, even as aspirants slam glitches, biometric failures, and cancellations in recent recruitment exams.

Amid mounting protests by Staff Selection Commission (SSC) aspirants over technical glitches and alleged mismanagement in recent recruitment exams, SSC Chairman S. Gopalakrishnan has broken his silence on the decision to award the exam-conducting tender to Eduquity Career Technologies instead of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

Tender Process and Eduquity’s Selection

Gopalakrishnan revealed that while TCS scored higher on technical parameters, Eduquity’s financial bid was significantly lower, and when both factors were combined, Eduquity emerged as the winner, he defended the choice, saying it was made through a transparent tender process that balanced technical evaluation and cost, during a conversation with The Lallantop.

“The tender was awarded strictly on a combined score of technical competence and cost. Eduquity scored lower technically, but its price was much lower than TCS’s bid,” he explained.

He also pointed out that in line with Supreme Court guidance, SSC from June 2025 has separated the agencies responsible for setting question papers and those conducting the examinations.

“Eduquity only conducts the exams. Question paper preparation remains entirely with the Commission,” the Chairman emphasised.

Aspirants’ Frustration Spills Over Online

Despite the explanation, aspirants remain unconvinced. Hundreds of SSC hopefuls expressed anger over repeated server crashes, biometric verification failures, incorrect centre allocations, and sudden cancellations during the ongoing recruitment cycle.

One aspirant wrote:“Exams kaafi jagah abhi bhi TCS ke centres par ho rahe… conduct Eduquity hi kar rahi but venue TCS ka use ho raha. Eduquity TCS ko blame kar rahi, nuksan ham log ka ho raha.”

“SSC ne paisa bachane ke liye students ka career daav par laga diya. Quality ke upar cost ko importance dena galat hai.”

Some demanded an immediate vendor change, arguing that the low-cost approach compromised the fairness and reliability of one of India’s biggest recruitment processes.

“Abhi se clear hai ki agle exams me bhi glitches aayenge. SSC ko vendor change karna hi padega,” a user posted.

Protests and Demands for Action

Several candidate groups have been staging demonstrations in Delhi and other cities, demanding that SSC return to TCS or select a more “trustworthy” vendor. The protests gained momentum after multiple reports of candidates being turned away from centres due to system failures, even after travelling hundreds of kilometres.

Student bodies have warned that if issues persist, larger nationwide protests could follow, potentially disrupting the upcoming SSC CGL and CHSL exam schedules.

SSC’s Stand

While aspirants allege that the change in vendor has directly led to the chaos, SSC maintains that all decisions have followed procurement norms. “We are committed to conducting exams in a fair and transparent manner and are reviewing all concerns raised,” Gopalakrishnan said.