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Lakhs of students across the country are Protesting due to serious irregularities in the SSC Phase 13 examination. Reports reveal that the question paper was leaked and made available half an hour before the scheduled start, effectively nullifying the test. Furthermore, around 60 to 70 percent of the paper was allegedly repeated from previous exams. In several centers, computer systems froze mid-exam, while in others, servers went down, leading to cancellations. Numerous instances were also reported where candidates were allotted examination centers thousands of kilometers away from their homes.

When students and teachers protested against these issues, the police responded with a lathi-charge. The SSC Phase 13 examination, which serves as a recruitment process for Group B and Group C positions in various government ministries and departments, was conducted this year between July 24 and August 1. Lakhs of aspirants, hoping for a government job, applied and prepared diligently. However, as soon as the exams began, problems started to unfold.

Typically, SSC admit cards are issued four days before the exam, but this time, many were not released even two days in advance, and some were issued completely blank. On July 24, during the very first shift of the first day, reports of irregularities began pouring in. At several centers, the biometric verification system was not functioning, causing some candidates to miss their exams entirely or arrive late.

In the middle of the test, many candidates lost 10 to 15 minutes as the systems froze and the exams came to a standstill. Some centers were equipped with outdated computers prone to malfunction. Technical glitches interrupted the process, with screens turning off for extended periods or systems crashing completely. Such disruptions left candidates distracted and anxious.

In a competitive examination where every second counts, losing 10 to 15 minutes can be devastating. At certain centers, students were given poor-quality computer mice that required four to five clicks just to select an answer, further wasting valuable time and adding to their frustration.

At some centers, candidates reported that the computer mouse would only respond after four or more clicks. When they raised this issue with the examination center management, their requests for a replacement were dismissed outright. Students recalled how staff members sarcastically questioned the complaint, saying things like, “Who says the mouse is faulty?” and outright refusing to provide a working device.

In several locations, power outages occurred mid-exam, or servers crashed without any backup systems in place. As a result, papers failed to load properly, especially image-based questions. For mathematical problems, students were given pen and paper, but the pens were of such poor quality that writing was extremely difficult—some even described them as feeling as heavy as a birthday candle.

Due to these problems, many exams were canceled. For example, the 9:30 a.m. session at Educasa International Center in Karnataka was canceled because of technical failures. Similarly, exams scheduled at Pawan Ganga Education Center in Delhi between July 24 and July 26 were canceled for administrative reasons.

Beyond technical issues, the physical conditions of some exam centers were deplorable. In certain rooms, there were no fans, chairs were broken, and the spaces were cramped, lacking even basic facilities like drinking water and functional washrooms. Many centers were located in remote, isolated areas unsafe for candidates. Some sites were so desolate they resembled forests—but these were not jungles; they were official SSC exam centers.

This was the SSC exam center. We had traveled 300 kilometers from Prayagraj to appear for the test, only to find that the center was someone’s house in the middle of a field. This residential building had been designated as an official examination venue. It was located 7–8 kilometers from the nearest railway station, with no auto-rickshaws or other means of public transport available.

At some locations, cows and buffaloes were tied up on the ground floor while students sat for their exams on the first floor. In one instance, loud music from a nearby DJ blared throughout the test, making it impossible to concentrate.

Now, think about this from the perspective of a candidate, someone who studies 10 hours a day, for months, sometimes even an entire year, preparing for this one opportunity. After all that hard work and sacrifice, they are forced to endure such chaotic and unacceptable conditions on exam day. Naturally, it feels as if all their effort has been wasted.

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