Latest news with #SGopalakrishnan
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Fix exam glitches that harm aspirants' futures
Seven years after a Staff Selection Commission exam was investigated for widespread irregularities and paper leaks, another SSC exam has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons. Software crashes, faulty biometric systems, and wrong locations assigned to candidates have forced the authorities to rethink the Phase 13 exams held between July 24 and August 1. Several candidates who had travelled long distances became aware of the disruptions upon arrival. Worse, protests by some job aspirants and their teachers, who demanded an independent investigation and reforms in the exam's management, faced the police's high-handedness. SSC Chairman S Gopalakrishnan indicated in a media interview that a fresh test may be held for candidates who did not get a 'fair chance' during the original test window. These are not isolated cases—a pattern emerges when seen along with the troubles concerning several other exams conducted by central authorities. A Railway Recruitment Board exam in March to recruit assistant locomotive pilots was partially cancelled due to technical glitches related to improper loading of question papers at some centres. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical seats conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) has faced tech malfunctions for the past 3 years. The Delhi High Court recently asked the NTA to set up a grievance redress committee for the candidates who lost exam time because of such problems at NEET-UG 2025.
India.com
6 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
SSC Chairman Rules Out Exam Cancellation, Retest Exam Possible For ‘Disrupted' Centres
New Delhi: The Staff Selection Commission will not cancel the recent Selection Post Phase 13 exam, but may hold a retest for affected candidates who were denied a "fair chance", Chairman S Gopalakrishnan said on Monday amid protests over mismanagement during the test. The body has also written to exam vendor Eduquity Career Technologies, asking the firm to address all issues reported during the July 24-August 1 test window. "We are analysing the data. If we find even one candidate who has been wronged, we will conduct the exam again for them," the Chairman said. The SSC is a statutory body that conducts recruitment exams for various posts in ministries, departments, and other government organisations. The Phase 13 exam, conducted between July 24 and August 1 across 194 centres in 142 cities, was plagued by abrupt cancellations, software crashes, biometric verification failures, and erroneous centre allotments. During the test window, around 5 lakh candidates appeared for the examination. These disruptions triggered a wave of protests across Delhi last week, bringing thousands of aspirants to the streets and also resulting in a strong backlash on social media. Speaking to ANI, the Chairman admitted to mismanagement, including technical glitches and far-off centres being assigned to candidates. He assured that all issues would be resolved in the coming months. "We will correct and plan in the coming months," he added. To address the immediate concern of candidates, additional tests were held on August 2 in three shifts. Two centres, one in Delhi (Pawan Ganga) and another in Uttar Pradesh (Educasa), saw complete cancellations, affecting around 2,500 students. On August 2, about 16,600 candidates were scheduled for the retest, but only 8,048 turned up, marking a 60 per cent attendance rate. The Chairman said the SSC would conduct another re-test for affected candidates, if necessary. Chairman Gopalakrishnan admitted to "teething problems" with the new vendor and said penalties would be imposed for lapses such as system hangs and mouse malfunctions. However, he rejected calls by candidates and educators to remove the vendor. "Based on one test, I cannot remove them. How will I conduct examinations in the coming weeks? I will have to float a new tender, and it will take until December for a company to be finalised. Till then, what will I do?" he asked. "We have seen an improvement in the company's functioning over one week. There were issues on the first few days, and then they resolved them," he added. Responding to concerns over the use of Artificial Intelligence in question selection, the SSC clarified that only a rudimentary AI system is used to avoid repetition, with each question tagged with metadata. Students alleged that the use of AI led to the repetition of questions. The SSC said it relies on logs, CCTV footage, and electronic data analysis to ensure the integrity of exams, with network systems opened to the commission and monitored with the help of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC). The SSC is hopeful that the upcoming examinations will be smooth and without disruptions. "In this exam, we have seen what issues can arise. The upcoming exams on August 6-8 will be much less disruptive. There will be 3.5 lakh candidates in the upcoming exams," he said. (ANI)
NDTV
6 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
SSC Chairman Admits To Mismanagement, But Says Exam Won't Be Cancelled
New Delhi: "If even one candidate has been wronged, we will conduct the exam again for them," the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Chairman, S Gopalakrishnan, told NDTV at the backdrop of mounting protests over alleged discrepancies and technical issues in the recently conducted SSC Selection Post Phase 13 examination. The Chairman on Monday dismissed the possibility of cancelling the exam. However, he indicated that a rescheduled test may be held for candidates who did not get a "fair chance" during the original test window due to disruptions. While the Chairman admitted to the mismanagement citing computer system failures, mouse malfunctions and the allocation of distant exam centres to candidates, he also mentioned that the body has written to Eduquity Career Technologies-which was awarded the tender to conduct the exams- asking them to address the reported lapses for the exams held from July 24 to August 1. "Penalties are also likely for failures such as system crashes and hardware malfunctions", added the Chairman. Despite growing calls from candidates to scrap the examination and change the vendor, Gopalakrishnan ruled out both. "On the basis of one test, I cannot remove them. I would need to float a fresh tender which could take until December. How will I conduct exams in the meantime?" he asked. Some of the most serious disruptions occurred at two centres-Pawan Ganga in Delhi and Educasa in Uttar Pradesh-where tests were entirely cancelled, affecting about 2,500 students. Originally scheduled to end on August 1, the examination had to be extended to August 2 in three shifts to compensate for disruptions reported at 20 centres. But attendance was barely 60 per cent, with only 8,048 of the scheduled 16,600 candidates turning up. Speaking to NDTV, the Chairman acknowledged "teething issues" with the new vendor. He assured that "corrections" would be made in the coming months. "We are analysing logs, CCTV footage, and electronic data to ensure accountability. We have seen an improvement in the company's functioning over the past one week. There were issues on the first few days, and then they resolved them," Gopalakrishnan added. Regarding student concerns over the use of Artificial Intelligence for questionnaire preparation, the SSC clarified that only a basic AI tool is used to avoid repetition, with each question tagged with metadata. The SSC, in collaboration with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), monitors the exam process through a network system installed on each desktop to ensure the integrity of its examinations using logs, CCTV footage, and electronic data analysis. "We are hopeful the upcoming exams scheduled between August 6 and 8, involving around 3.5 lakh candidates, will be smooth," said Gopalakrishnan. The Chairman maintained that while there were issues with the exam, it was not "totally unfair" to merit cancellation and promised that all existing issues would be fully addressed within a month. The exam, conducted from July 24 to August 1 across 194 centres in 142 cities, was marred by abrupt cancellations, software failures, biometric mismatches, and erroneous centre allotments. Around 5 lakh candidates had registered for the recruitment test. The last-minute changes and repeated technical failures sparked protests across Delhi last week, with hundreds of aspirants taking to the streets and social media platforms to express outrage. The backlash has led SSC to re-examine its exam protocols. The SSC is a statutory authority responsible for conducting recruitment examinations for positions across central ministries, departments, and other government bodies.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
SSC chairman confirms no cancellation of Phase 13 exam amid protests, plans retest for affected candidates
SSC exam will not be cancelled; retest for affected students a possibility: Chairman SSC exam will not be cancelled; retest for affected students a possibility: Chairman SSC exam will not be cancelled; retest for affected students a possibility: Chairman SSC exam will not be cancelled; retest for affected students a possibility: Chairman SSC exam will not be cancelled; retest for affected students a possibility: Chairman 1 2 New Delhi [India], August 4 (ANI): The Staff Selection Commission will not cancel the recent Selection Post Phase 13 exam, but may hold a retest for affected candidates who were denied a "fair chance", Chairman S Gopalakrishnan said on Monday amid protests over mismanagement during the test. The body has also written to exam vendor Eduquity Career Technologies, asking the firm to address all issues reported during the July 24-August 1 test window. "We are analysing the data. If we find even one candidate who has been wronged, we will conduct the exam again for them," the Chairman said. The SSC is a statutory body that conducts recruitment exams for various posts in ministries, departments, and other government organisations. The Phase 13 exam, conducted between July 24 and August 1 across 194 centres in 142 cities, was plagued by abrupt cancellations, software crashes, biometric verification failures, and erroneous centre allotments. During the test window, around 5 lakh candidates appeared for the examination. These disruptions triggered a wave of protests across Delhi last week, bringing thousands of aspirants to the streets and also resulting in a strong backlash on social media. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Blood cancer is taking our curious baby away from us! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Speaking to ANI, the Chairman admitted to mismanagement, including technical glitches and far-off centres being assigned to candidates. He assured that all issues would be resolved in the coming months. "We will correct and plan in the coming months," he added. To address the immediate concern of candidates, additional tests were held on August 2 in three shifts. Two centres, one in Delhi (Pawan Ganga) and another in Uttar Pradesh (Educasa), saw complete cancellations, affecting around 2,500 students. On August 2, about 16,600 candidates were scheduled for the retest, but only 8,048 turned up, marking a 60 per cent attendance rate. The Chairman said the SSC would conduct another re-test for affected candidates, if necessary. Chairman Gopalakrishnan admitted to "teething problems" with the new vendor and said penalties would be imposed for lapses such as system hangs and mouse malfunctions. However, he rejected calls by candidates and educators to remove the vendor. "Based on one test, I cannot remove them. How will I conduct examinations in the coming weeks? I will have to float a new tender, and it will take until December for a company to be finalised. Till then, what will I do?" he asked. "We have seen an improvement in the company's functioning over one week. There were issues on the first few days, and then they resolved them," he added. Responding to concerns over the use of Artificial Intelligence in question selection, the SSC clarified that only a rudimentary AI system is used to avoid repetition, with each question tagged with metadata. Students alleged that the use of AI led to the repetition of questions. The SSC said it relies on logs, CCTV footage, and electronic data analysis to ensure the integrity of exams, with network systems opened to the commission and monitored with the help of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC). The SSC is hopeful that the upcoming examinations will be smooth and without disruptions. "In this exam, we have seen what issues can arise. The upcoming exams on August 6-8 will be much less disruptive. There will be 3.5 lakh candidates in the upcoming exams," he said. (ANI) Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SSC exam will not be cancelled, may hold retest for affected candidates, says Chairman
The Staff Selection Commission will not cancel the recent Selection Post Phase 13 exam, but may hold a retest for affected candidates who were denied a "fair chance", Chairman S Gopalakrishnan said on Monday amid protests over mismanagement during the test. SSC chairman said that the Selection Post Phase 13 exam will not be cancelled. (File) The body has also written to exam vendor Eduquity Career Technologies, asking the firm to address all issues reported during the July 24-August 1 test window. "We are analysing the data. If we find even one candidate who has been wronged, we will conduct the exam again for them," the Chairman said. Also read: Nagaland University launches new 'Master of Arts programme in Language and Culture', check course details and more The SSC is a statutory body that conducts recruitment exams for various posts in ministries, departments, and other government organisations. The Phase 13 exam, conducted between July 24 and August 1 across 194 centres in 142 cities, was plagued by abrupt cancellations, software crashes, biometric verification failures, and erroneous centre allotments. During the test window, around 5 lakh candidates appeared for the examination. These disruptions triggered a wave of protests across Delhi last week, bringing thousands of aspirants to the streets and also resulting in a strong backlash on social media. Also read: NBEMS releases schedule for NEET SS, FMGE & other examinations, check dates here Speaking to ANI, the Chairman admitted to mismanagement, including technical glitches and far-off centres being assigned to candidates. He assured that all issues would be resolved in the coming months. "We will correct and plan in the coming months," he added. To address the immediate concern of candidates, additional tests were held on August 2 in three shifts. Two centres, one in Delhi (Pawan Ganga) and another in Uttar Pradesh (Educasa), saw complete cancellations, affecting around 2,500 students. On August 2, about 16,600 candidates were scheduled for the retest, but only 8,048 turned up, marking a 60 per cent attendance rate. The Chairman said the SSC would conduct another re-test for affected candidates, if necessary. Also read: From degrees to skills: Why India's youth need practical skills to drive a future-ready workforce Chairman Gopalakrishnan admitted to "teething problems" with the new vendor and said penalties would be imposed for lapses such as system hangs and mouse malfunctions. However, he rejected calls by candidates and educators to remove the vendor. "Based on one test, I cannot remove them. How will I conduct examinations in the coming weeks? I will have to float a new tender, and it will take until December for a company to be finalised. Till then, what will I do?" he asked. "We have seen an improvement in the company's functioning over one week. There were issues on the first few days, and then they resolved them," he added. Responding to concerns over the use of Artificial Intelligence in question selection, the SSC clarified that only a rudimentary AI system is used to avoid repetition, with each question tagged with metadata. Students alleged that the use of AI led to the repetition of questions. The SSC said it relies on logs, CCTV footage, and electronic data analysis to ensure the integrity of exams, with network systems opened to the commission and monitored with the help of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC). The SSC is hopeful that the upcoming examinations will be smooth and without disruptions. "In this exam, we have seen what issues can arise. The upcoming exams on August 6-8 will be much less disruptive. There will be 3.5 lakh candidates in the upcoming exams," he said.
