The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Tier-1 Examination 2025 has been marred by allegations of technical glitches and mismanagement, leading to frustration among aspirants and prompting a response from the SSC Chairman.

On September 12, 2025, the first day of the examination, several centers across India reported cancellations due to technical and administrative issues. Candidates took to social media to express their anger and disappointment, with #SSCMismanagement trending as they demanded answers and accountability from the SSC.

Specific instances of disruptions include:

• Jammu: The exam at Digital Computer Education (1st shift) was cancelled due to technical glitches. Candidates from this center will be rescheduled for September 26, 2025.
• Bokaro, Jharkhand: At TISSA Technology, 66 candidates faced technical issues in the 1st shift and will be rescheduled separately. The 2nd and 3rd shifts at this center were completely cancelled and will be conducted on later dates.
• Kolkata, West Bengal: The entire exam at Mind Matrix, Kalaberia, was cancelled for all shifts, with rescheduling planned.
• Gurugram & Delhi: MM Public School, Gurugram, and Bharti Vidya Niketan Public School, Delhi, faced administrative challenges leading to cancellations. Candidates scheduled at these centers on September 12 will now take the exam on September 24, 25, or 26.

SSC Chairman S. Gopalakrishnan addressed the concerns, acknowledging "teething problems" with the new exam vendor, Eduquity Career Technologies. He stated that the commission is committed to conducting fair and transparent examinations and has implemented measures to detect and prevent unfair practices. He advised candidates not to panic in case of technical issues, assuring them that systems would be promptly shifted to avoid loss of time. The Chairman also mentioned that SSC staff would be present at all centers to assist candidates.

The SSC has warned candidates of strict action, including debarment, under the new Public Examinations Act 2024 for indulging in unfair means. The commission is using biometric checks, AI-based CCTV surveillance, and advanced detection systems to prevent cheating.

The SSC CGL Tier-1 Examination 2025 is being conducted from September 12 to 26 across 260 centers in 129 cities, with nearly 28 lakh candidates registered. The exam aims to fill 14,582 vacancies in government departments. To enhance flexibility, the exam will also be conducted on laptops at a few centers in Kolkata for the first time.

In response to earlier disruptions in the SSC Selection Post Phase 13 exam, the SSC conducted a re-examination for affected candidates. The commission has also introduced changes such as Aadhaar-based authentication, a new normalization method, and tighter monitoring of private exam centers. The responsibility for setting question papers has been separated from the exam conducting agency.

The SSC Chairman has stated that the commission has "learned its lessons" and will ensure that the "glitches of July will not be repeated". He mentioned that the SSC will adopt a four-agency model, where different responsibilities such as question paper setting, exam infrastructure, and delivery will be split among multiple partners to avoid dependence on one vendor.