Fee Cuts, New Helpline, and Equi-Percentile Normalization to Ensure Fair Results. Digital Safeguards Strengthened, Errant Centres to Face Action, Official X Handle Launched for Updates

Posted on: 03 OCT 2025, 6:18 PM by PIB Delhi

New Delhi, October 3: In a major step towards increasing transparency, security, and convenience for millions of exam aspirants, the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has announced a series of reforms aimed at improving the examination process across the country. The new measures are designed to balance the integrity of exams while also easing the process for candidates, as the Commission prepares for a busy cycle of exams in the months ahead.

A key highlight of these reforms is the provision allowing candidates to view their individual question papers, the responses they submitted, and the correct answers. This will enable aspirants to challenge answer keys with solid evidence and retain copies of their papers for personal review. However, officials have clarified that during multi-shift exams, some restrictions will be imposed to prevent the leakage of question papers from later sessions. To further support candidates, SSC will also release official past question papers as sample sets at regular intervals. This move will provide genuine study materials to aspirants while maintaining confidentiality for future exams.

In a bid to make the examination process more candidate-friendly, the SSC has reduced the fee for challenging questions. The fee has been slashed from ₹100 to ₹50 per question, significantly lowering the financial burden on aspirants who wish to contest any discrepancies in the answers. Additionally, a new online feedback and grievance portal has been introduced, along with the existing toll-free helpline (1800-309-3063), ensuring faster resolution of issues raised by candidates.

Another major reform is the introduction of Equi-Percentile Normalization. This system compares candidates based on their percentile scores rather than raw marks, ensuring that results remain consistent and fair even if there are variations in the difficulty levels of papers across different exam shifts. For instance, if one batch of candidates faces a slightly tougher paper, the normalization process ensures they aren’t at a disadvantage.

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Security has also been a major concern in these reforms. To prevent impersonation and prevent candidates from attempting the same exam multiple times, Aadhaar-based authentication has been made mandatory. The question papers themselves are now transmitted through a secure digital vault, reducing the risk of leaks. SSC has partnered with specialized IT agencies to block any attempts at hacking or malpractice during the exam. Furthermore, the exam monitoring system has been tightened, with strong action being taken against any centres or candidates found violating the rules.

These new measures were put into practice in the recently concluded Tier-I of the Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGLE) 2025, where about 28 lakh candidates applied, and nearly 13.5 lakh candidates appeared across 126 cities, 255 centres, and 45 shifts. Although some centres faced technical issues, the SSC has announced a re-exam for the affected candidates, scheduled for October 14. Candidates concerned will receive individual notifications through email and SMS. The window for challenging questions will open the next day, on October 15.

Looking ahead, the Commission has laid out plans for a packed schedule of exams between October 2025 and March 2026. These will include major exams like the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSLE), Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS), Junior Engineer (JE), Constable (Delhi Police & CAPFs), Sub-Inspector (Delhi Police & CAPFs), and technical cadre exams for Delhi Police. Officials are confident that the new reforms will ensure these exams are not only efficient but also fair and transparent.

In a bid to streamline communication with aspirants, SSC has launched its official handle on X (@SSC_GoI), urging candidates to rely only on official updates and avoid being misled by false information circulating online.

As the SSC gears up to celebrate its Golden Jubilee year, officials emphasized that these reforms reflect the Commission’s long-standing commitment to upholding transparency and fairness in the recruitment process. “These measures are designed to benefit lakhs of hardworking candidates and ensure that the integrity of the exams is maintained,” an SSC spokesperson stated.

(For more details, visit the official website or follow the official SSC handle on X).