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Students protesting at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan demanded structural reforms in the SSC exam system, saying they want transparency and accountability, not temporary fixes.
SSC aspirants protest at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, many detained by police.
Tension gripped Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday as thousands of students and teachers, under the banner of Chatra Maha Andolan, staged a massive protest against alleged irregularities in the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) recruitment examinations.
The demonstration, which saw over 1,500 participants from across the country, turned chaotic in the evening when police intervened after the permitted protest time ended. Students alleged that the police used force to disperse them, accusing officials of carrying out a “lathicharge”. Videos circulating on social media platform X showed students running from the venue as police tried to clear the grounds.
According to Delhi Police, the gathering was peaceful until the permitted 5 pm deadline. “Around 1,500 protesters gathered at Ramlila Maidan. Of these, about 100 refused to leave despite repeated requests. Over 40 were detained while the others dispersed. No misconduct was done by police,” an officer said.
Why Are Students Protesting Again?
This is not the first time candidates have taken to the streets against the SSC. Between July and early August, similar demonstrations were held in Delhi and other parts of the country, demanding reforms in the recruitment process.
The protest was sparked mainly by issues with the SSC Selection Post Phase 13 examination, conducted between July 24 and August 1. Students reported abrupt cancellations, frequent technical glitches, biometric failures, and widespread mismanagement at several centres.
Talks between SSC officials, the DoPT minister, and student representatives had briefly calmed the situation.
However, Fresh irregularities during the SSC Stenographer exam on August 6 and the postponement of the CGL examination reignited anger.
At the centre of the anger is Eduquity Career Technologies, the newly appointed vendor for SSC exams. Aspirants and teachers have accused the agency of being ill-equipped, pointing to faulty exam centre allocation, repeated system crashes, and logistical challenges that hit rural candidates the hardest.
Many candidates argued that years of preparation were being undermined by administrative lapses that put their careers at risk.
Students say such repeated lapses highlight deeper problems in the system — lack of infrastructure, unreliable private agencies conducting exams, delays in results, and little transparency.
For many, the stakes are personal. “We spend years preparing, but repeated exam cancellations and irregularities waste our time, money, and opportunities,” said Ayush, an aspirant.
Students’ Key Demands
The protesting students and teachers have listed a set of clear demands to restore trust in the SSC recruitment system:
- Blacklist and fine exam centres found guilty of mismanagement.
- Hold private agencies accountable and cancel contracts in case of negligence.
- Refund fees and reimburse travel costs or give another attempt to affected candidates.
- Release answer keys on time and allow objections before results.
- Publish a fixed exam calendar ensuring the recruitment cycle ends within 6–8 months.
- Provide additional attempts for UPSC candidates who lost chances during COVID-19, and extend OBC-like relaxations to EWS category students.
- Establish a Students’ Commission of India to resolve grievances in one place.
- Strict action against those submitting fake certificates.
With frustration mounting, students are calling for nothing less than structural reforms in the SSC examination system. “We are not asking for patchwork solutions; we are demanding lasting reforms. What students need is a fair, transparent, and accountable SSC examination system,” said Sakshi, another aspirant.
Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-…Read More
Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-… Read More
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