"Recruitment test is continuing as scheduled across the country," says SSC amidst speculation about exam cancellation

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) on Monday sought to quash swirling social media speculation, confirming that the Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGL) 2025 is proceeding largely without disruption across the country.

While a handful of shifts have been affected, the Commission said all impacted candidates have been rescheduled, asserting that the recruitment test remains on track.“Out of a total of 2,435 shifts planned at 227 centres across 129 cities, only 25 shifts have been cancelled so far. All 7,705 affected candidates have been assigned alternate dates,” SSC officials clarified to PTI. The examination, which commenced on September 12 and is scheduled to conclude on September 26, is being conducted in three shifts daily.

According to the Commission, more than 3 lakh candidates have already appeared smoothly, with no cancellations reported on September 15.

First-day chaos: Gurugram, Delhi, and Jammu centres hit

The clarification comes on the heels of major disruptions on the first day of the examination. On September 12, multiple centres, including the high-profile MM Public School in Gurugram, witnessed sudden cancellations due to technical and administrative glitches. Frustrated candidates reportedly damaged school property, prompting police intervention.

Centre head Manoj Gupta cited last-minute server failures as the reason behind the disruption, while SSC Chairman S.

Gopalkrishnan noted outdated devices and technical lapses at select locations.Delhi and Jammu also saw examinations at Bharti Vidya Niketan Public School and Digital Computer Education, respectively, cancelled or delayed. Fresh dates have since been allotted—September 24 to 26 for Delhi candidates and September 26 for Jammu examinees.

Gopalkrishnan emphasised that only the Commission holds the authority to cancel exams, highlighting local mismanagement and technical inadequacies as contributing factors.

Recurring examination challenges spark concern

This year’s hiccups come amid a backdrop of recurring SSC examination challenges. Earlier this year, the Selection Post Phase 13 recruitment test faced software crashes, biometric failures, and incorrect centre allocations, triggering protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and CGO Complex.

The CGL remains one of the country’s largest recruitment examinations, attracting over 28 lakh aspirants this cycle, making the smooth conduct of the test critical for maintaining public trust.

SSC’s assurance: Fair conduct remains priority

The SSC, operating under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), continues to recruit for Group B (non-gazetted) and Group C posts across central ministries, departments, and organisations. With the majority of centres now functioning seamlessly, the Commission has pledged to uphold examination integrity and ensure all candidates receive a fair opportunity to compete.(With inputs from PTI)