Widespread exam disruptions during the SSC Selection Post Phase 13 have triggered nationwide protests by thousands of aspirants and educators. What began as scattered complaints has now escalated into a full-blown movement, with students alleging abrupt cancellations, technical glitches, and mistreatment at exam centres, pointing to what they describe as a systemic failure by the Staff Selection Commission.The unrest stems from multiple irregularities during the Phase 13 exams, held between July 24 and August 1, 2025. Candidates across the country have reported reaching centres only to find their exams cancelled without notice, encountering software crashes, or being assigned to the wrong locations. Many attribute these issues to a recent change in the Commission’s exam vendor.The anger has now spilled over onto social media. Hashtags like #SSCMisManagement, #SSCSystemSudharo, and #JusticeForAspirants are trending, with students sharing videos of the protests, accounts of exam-day chaos, and calls for urgent intervention.
Why students and teachers are protesting
A central grievance is the abrupt cancellation of exams without advance notice. Many aspirants reportedly travelled hundreds of kilometers, paying for transportation and accommodation—only to be told their exams were canceled upon arrival.The SSC phase 13 exam saw widespread technical failures, including:
- Computer crashes
- Faulty biometric systems
- Wrongly allotted exam centres
Many students are linking these failures to a recent vendor change by the Commission. Aspirants argue the new vendor has a poor track record, and its inability to manage even small-scale exams has cast doubt on its capacity to handle upcoming large-scale drives like SSC CGL 2025, which involves nearly 30 lakh candidates.
Viral videos spark anger over alleged mistreatment
Adding to the controversy are viral social media clips where students claim they were manhandled by security personnel or staff after raising legitimate concerns at exam centres.In the latest development, large-scale protests broke out in Delhi under the banner of a “Delhi Chalo” campaign. Aspirants and popular teachers gathered at Jantar Mantar and the CGO Complex, demanding accountability and immediate reforms. The situation escalated when students alleged that police resorted to lathi charges to disperse the crowd—drawing further criticism.Some allege they were silenced or physically pushed out when questioning the malfunctioning systems. These clips have intensified public anger, prompting many educators to join the cause. Popular teacher Neetu Singh was among those who lent vocal support during the protests in Delhi.
Social media becomes the battleground
Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube have become the primary platforms for SSC aspirants to share their experiences, coordinate protests, and demand accountability. Students and educators are using these platforms to document the issues they faced from technical glitches and last-minute cancellations to alleged mistreatment at exam centres.
Students demand investigation and reform
Students are now demanding an independent investigation into the SSC’s handling of the recent exams, along with a cancellation or thorough review of the current exam vendor’s contract. They are also calling for systemic reforms to ensure fair, transparent, and glitch-free recruitment practices going forward. At the core of their demands is the need for accountability from officials responsible for the disruptions. Many aspirants fear that if these concerns are not urgently addressed, the credibility of upcoming SSC exams, such as those for Income Tax posts and the highly anticipated CGL Tier 1, will be seriously undermined.What started as isolated complaints has now turned into a nationwide movement, with students demanding systemic change in one of India’s largest recruitment bodies. Unless concrete action is taken, the unrest could intensify ahead of SSC’s upcoming high-stakes examinations.For now, one thing is clear: the voices behind #SSCMisManagement aren’t going silent.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.
About the Author
