SSC Chairman S. Gopalakrishnan acknowledged that candidates had faced genuine issues, including malfunctioning systems, delayed Aadhaar verification, and distant centre allotments. He stated that concerns about functional computers, nearby centres, and the smooth conduct of exams were valid, and confirmed that the Commission has taken corrective steps to address them, according to several media reports.

NEW NORMALISATION RULE

A major change is in the score normalisation process. The SSC has replaced the older formula with a new shift-wise evaluation system, effective from July 2025. This ensures that difficulty variations are accounted for within a particular shift. Additionally, Tier 2 of the CGL will be held in a single shift with advanced technological support.

FOUR AGENCIES TO HANDLE EXAMS

Explaining the reasons behind July’s technical issues, Gopalakrishnan said that earlier, one agency handled both exam conduct and paper setting. Now, the responsibilities have been divided amongst four specialised agencies: one for exam centres, another for security, one for application management, and another for content creation. The SSC will continue to oversee the paper design directly.

AADHAR-BASED VERIFICATION

On the issue of Aadhaar verification delays, the chairman emphasised that authentication was essential to prevent impersonation and ensure confidentiality of question papers. While initial OTP-related problems had caused bottlenecks, he said the system had now stabilised and was critical in preventing malpractices.

EXAM CENTRES CLOSER TO HOME

Addressing candidate grievances about travelling to far-off centres, Gopalakrishnan admitted that vendor-related challenges had caused some students to be allotted centres hundreds of kilometres away. He stated that currently, about 80 percent of candidates receive centres of their choice, and under the new system, this figure will rise to more than 90 percent. No candidate will be required to travel more than 100 km for their exam.

NO RETURN TO PEN-AND-PAPER

Rejecting calls for traditional paper-based testing, the chairman explained that computer-based tests were more secure and efficient. He maintained that with crores of applicants, pen-and-paper exams would delay results and heighten the risk of leaks. Under the revised system, even colleges and universities could be used as exam centres, with question papers uploaded just minutes before the test to ensure security.

EXAM SCALE AND RECRUITMENT

Highlighting the scale of SSC operations, Gopalakrishnan stated that nearly two crore aspirants appear for these exams annually, with up to 60 lakh candidates participating in major tests. On average, 15–16 main examinations are conducted every year, leading to about 1.5 lakh appointments.

– Ends