The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has implemented significant reforms to enhance the transparency, security, and convenience of its examinations for aspirants across the country. A key change for the Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGLE) 2025, Tier 1, is that the 1.35 million candidates who appeared for the exam will be allowed to view, store, and review their question papers, responses, and the correct answers. This initiative aims to empower candidates and promote a fair and transparent examination process. The ability to review their papers will be enabled from October 15, 2025.
One of the most significant reforms is the introduction of equi-percentile normalization. This method compares candidates based on their percentile scores rather than raw marks, effectively eliminating any advantage or disadvantage arising from variations in difficulty levels across different exam shifts. For instance, if one group of candidates faces a tougher paper than another, normalization ensures fair and consistent results across all groups.
The SSC has also halved the fee for challenging questions, reducing it from ₹100 to ₹50 per question. This measure eases the financial burden on aspirants who wish to contest any answer. Candidates can challenge the answer keys with evidence.
To further assist aspirants, the commission will publish selected past question papers as official sample sets at regular intervals. This provides authentic study material while ensuring the confidentiality of upcoming exams.
In response to technical issues reported by candidates, the SSC cross-checked reported disruptions with digital footprints and is allowing genuinely affected candidates to retake the exam. A re-exam is scheduled for October 14 for those affected by technical issues and a fire incident at a Mumbai center. The commission will individually inform the concerned candidates via email and SMS.
The SSC is also addressing instances of malpractice. Some individuals were caught submitting fake ‘benchmark disability’ documents and attempting remote access. Candidates under suspicion of malpractice will also need to sit for the re-exam. Aadhaar-based authentication is now in place to prevent impersonation and stop candidates from attempting the same exam multiple times. Question papers are transmitted securely through a digital vault, reducing vulnerability to leaks.
To improve communication with aspirants, the SSC has launched an official handle on X (@SSC_GoI). In addition to the existing toll-free helpline (1800-309-3063), an online feedback and grievance portal has been set up for quicker resolution of candidate concerns.
The SSC has announced plans for upcoming examinations, including the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL), Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS), Junior Engineer (JE), Constable (Delhi Police and CAPFs), Sub-Inspector (Delhi Police & CAPFs), and technical cadre exams of Delhi Police, scheduled between October 2025 and March 2026. The commission has urged candidates to rely only on official announcements.
