#SSCVendorFailure: Protests Erupt Over Exam Cancellations, Glitches in SSC Phase 13 Recruitment Test

‘Delhi Chalo’ protest planned on July 31 as aspirants demand exam reforms and transparency.

Ongoing Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Selection Phase 13 exam has led to protests across country, with aspirants alleging mismanagement, repeated cancellations and technical failures. Exam began on July 24 and will conclude on August 1 has been marred by logistical and administrative failures at many centres.

Hashtag #SSCVendorFailure has been trending on X (formerly Twitter), with students demanding accountability from SSC and Ministry of Personnel. A “Delhi Chalo” protest has been called on July 31, with affected candidates demanding an overhaul of exam management systems and rollback of outsourced services.

Cancelled Exams, Technical Snags Reported

According to candidates, multiple exam shifts were either cancelled or halted abruptly. At Pawan Ganga Educational Centre 2, exam from July 24 to 26 were called off because of “administrative reasons”. Similarly, first shift at Educasa International, Hubbali, on July 24 was interrupted due to a technical glitch.

While some shifts have been rescheduled from July 28 onwards, candidates said that they received no timely communication and were left stranded after travelling long distances.

Poor Infrastructure, Distant Centres Add to Woes

Apart from technical issues, students have also shared about poor infrastructure at exam centres. Their complaints included malfunctioning systems, suffocating rooms without fans, broken chairs, and lack of basic facilities. Many candidates were assigned centres which were located 500–1,000 km away from their home town, adding financial burden.

Criticism is being directed at new private vendor of SSC for managing exam logistics. Several X users claimed that vendor had previously been pulled up by a High Court in another case, raising questions over its selection process.

Candidates have taken to social media to share their experiences and express frustration. Here are some of the student posts:

Neetu Singh (@NeetuSingh202): "Students are suffering due to repeated exam cancellations & poor infrastructure. Future is at stake, but there’s no response to our concerns. We demand immediate action & accountability. @DoPTGoI #SSCReforms #SSCVendorFailure"

Aditya Ranjan (@adityaranjan108): "भाई, ये तो अब सरासर गुंडागर्दी है। जब छात्र परीक्षा देने जाएं, और बदले में मार खाकर लौटं, तो ये सिर्फ अव्यवस्था नहीं, ये अत्याचार है। #SSCVendorFailure #SSCMisManagement"

Rahul Kushwaha (@rk91440336): "#SSCVendorFailure Dear SSC, our dreams are not a joke! Technical failures, paper leaks, and mismanagement by your vendors are destroying years of our hard work. We deserve justice and transparency."

Soniya Deshwal (@ImSoniya24): "Smells like a scam. Company that was declared a thief by High Court, SSC appointed that very same company as vendor and made the thief the gatekeeper."

Call for Reforms Intensifies

Student groups have demanded from SSC various reform measures:

Develop its own in-house exam software.

Drop the current vendor.

Offer compensation or re exams to affected candidates, and

Ensure transparency in communication and logistics.