SSC CGL 2025 Exam Update: Single Shift to be Conducted, Centres Within 100 km

SSC chairman has said that the SSC CGL 2025 exam will be conducted in a single shift and exam centres will be within a radius of 100 km; a four-agency model will be adopted to avoid exam glitches.

SSC CGL 2025 Exam

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has promised a smooth experience for candidates in its upcoming recruitment exams, after thousands of candidates were disappointed due to technical glitches during the thirteenth phase of the selection post exam earlier this year.

SSC chairman S. Gopalakrishnan has said that the commission has decided to conduct the SSC CGL Tier-1 exam 2025 in a single shift instead of multiple sessions. He also announced that now exam centres will be allotted within a radius of 100 km from the homes of the candidates. The move is aimed at reducing the stress of long-distance travel, which earlier led to many students skipping the exam, reports Navbharat Times.

The SSC chairman admitted that the vendor change from TCS to Eduquity led to system crashes, delays in Aadhaar verification and frequent disruptions during the SSC July exams.

The chairman said the commission will now adopt a four-agency model where various responsibilities such as question paper preparation, exam infrastructure and delivery will be shared among multiple partners to avoid dependence on a single vendor.

The move comes after days of protests by candidates and teachers under the hashtag #SSCMisManagement where students complained of poor arrangements and sudden cancellation of exams. The situation worsened further when reports of police action on protesting candidates in Delhi emerged. Many candidates also complained that despite travelling hundreds of kilometres, they were unable to appear for the exam due to a faulty biometric system.

Exam Integrity Under Question

The concerns of the candidates further increased when, following the Supreme Court's order, the SSC recently released a list of 1,804 tainted candidates involved in the cash for job scandal. This has raised further questions on the transparency of the recruitment process. Candidates fear that repeated irregularities may harm their career prospects, as this exam is the only way to get a government job.

New SSC CGL Dates Expected in September

The SSC CGL Tier-1 exam, which was scheduled between August 13 and 30, 2025, has now been postponed. The revised schedule is expected to be announced in the first week of September, and the admit cards may be released just a few days before the exam. Candidates also need to be familiar with the new sliding scheme of SSC, which has been implemented this year to fill the vacancies quickly.

Gopalakrishnan added that the commission has “learnt its lessons” and will ensure that “the glitches of July are not repeated.” These improvements are a relief for lakhs of candidates awaiting the CGL exam—but the real test for the SSC will be in restoring confidence on the exam day.