Nationwide Outrage Over SSC 2025: Key Reasons behind protests by Educators and Aspirants
August 5, 2025Widespread protests have erupted across the country as thousands of teachers and aspirants rally against the alleged mismanagement in the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Selection Post Phase 13 recruitment exam.
Thousands gathered outside the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in Delhi, demanding transparency and accountability in the SSC examination process. The sudden exam cancellations, technical glitches, mismanagement and poor treatment at the test centers highlight the systematic failure of the Staff Selection Commission.
The Causes of the Nationwide Unrest
The irregularities during the Phase 13 exams held between July 24 and August 1, 2025, led to widespread unrest. The major issue is the last-minute exam cancellations without prior notice. The candidates travelled long distances only to find their tests postponed.
Many aspirants reported receiving their admit cards just two days before the exam, contrary to the Staff Selection Commission’s practice of releasing hall tickets at least four days in advance.
Another evident issue was the wrong allocation of the exam centres. There were instances where the candidates from Jaipur were assigned centres in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, despite the policy of SSC to allot the centres based on aspirants’ geographic preference. This causes mental and financial stress among the candidates.
Technical Glitches and Alleged Misconduct at Exam Centres
Several exam centres faced severe technical disruptions, including system and server failure and equipment, including mice or monitors not functioning and faulty biometric systems. Students reported there was no proper assistance in the test centres to combat these issues, leading to deliberate delays and mismanaged exam procedures.
Invigilators and Security Personnel Harassment
Many candidates also accused exam invigilators and security personnel of harassment and inappropriate behaviour, making the situation even worse. Such issues showcase the unprofessional conduct in the exam centres.
Role of Eduquity- A Blacklisted Agency
One of the significant triggers for the nationwide protest was the Staff Selection Commission’s decision to appoint Eduquity, a private agency with a controversial past, to conduct the Selection Post Phase 13 exam.
This agency was earlier blacklisted by the educational department for its alleged involvement in the Vyapam scam, which involved bribery, seat manipulations and impersonation scandals.
Despite this, Eduquity is appointed to conduct the SSC CGL 2025 exam, where more than 30 lakh candidates are appearing.
Aadhar Authentication Issues
The mandatory Aadhar-based verification system introduced added hurdles for the candidates. Many aspirants were unable to submit their application forms because of biometric failures, while the others faced authentication issues at the exam centres, leading to disqualification.
The anger of the millions of students has entered social media with Hashtags like #SSC Mismanagement, # SSC System Sudharo and # Justice for Aspirants are trending.
The Reason for Protest
A main grievance is the sudden cancellation of the exams without giving notice. Many aspirants travelled to long distances, paying for accommodation and transportation- only to find that their exams were cancelled. The social media clips where students were manhandled by the security personnel or staff at the test centres led to aspirants and teachers gathering at Jantar Mantar and the CGO Complex, demanding accountability and immediate reforms.
The situation escalated when the students alleged that the police resorted to lathi charges to disperse the crowd. These clips have increased the public's wrath, compelling many educators to join the cause.
Student’s Demand
The protestors are demanding the removal of Eduquity from conducting SSC exams. They are seeking an independent investigation into SSC’s handling of recent exams. They are calling for systematic reforms to ensure fair, glitch-free and transparent recruitment processes in future.
They are demanding strict action against the officials responsible for mismanagement and structural reforms in the SSC examination process, including better centre allocation and timely admit card releases.
The government has not yet issued any official statement addressing the protests. It is expected that the government will take quick action to restore trust among the aspirants and ensure a fair selection process. The voices behind the mismanagement in SSC will not be silent soon.
