SSC CGL 2025 Major Reforms: Single-Shift Exam, Aadhaar Verification to Ensure Fairness

3 min read

Somdatta Roy

Senior Content Writer | Updated on - Sep 3, 2025

The CGL exam, which fills Group B and C posts in various government ministries and departments, is scheduled for September 2025. The upcoming SSC session will feature several key changes designed to address long-standing issues faced by aspirants.

Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has announced a series of major reforms for its CGL exam, which is set to be held in September 2025. In an exclusive interview with Navbharat Times, SSC Chairman S. Gopalakrishnan stated that the new measures are a direct response to longstanding issues faced by candidates, such as computer malfunctions, verification delays, and distant exam centres.

To address these problems and streamline the process, the SSC commission will now conduct the exam in a single shift, improve its centre allocation system, implement a fairer scoring method, and make Aadhaar verification mandatory. The overarching goal of these reforms is to ensure the exam is more transparent, convenient, and equitable for all aspirants across the country.

What are the Key Reforms Announced?

The official SSC CGL 2025 exam dates will be announced in the upcoming notification, an event of immense scale given that around two crore candidates appear for SSC exams annually, with up to 60 lakh taking major exams. The Chairman noted that the commission conducts an average of 15 to 16 main exams each year, leading to nearly 1.5 lakh appointments. Check out the reforms:

New Normalisation Formula

A significant change has been introduced in the normalisation of scores. According to the Chairman, until June 2025, the previous formula was in use, but SSC shifted to a new method starting in July. "Now, normalisation will be done shift-wise. If one shift's paper is tougher and another's is easier, candidates will be evaluated within their own shift," he explained. He also confirmed that the final, or Tier 2 exam, will be conducted in a single shift with the help of technology to ensure fairness.

Four Agencies to Share Responsibility

Gopalakrishnan stated that a major reason for the issues faced in July was a change in vendors. "Earlier, a single agency handled both exam conduct and question preparation. Now, responsibilities are divided among four agencies, one for exam centres, another for security, a third for application management, and a fourth for content creation. SSC itself will monitor the question paper pattern," he said in the interview.

Aadhaar Verification and Security

The SSC Chairman addressed the delays caused by Aadhaar, stating that the technology was implemented to prevent misconduct and impersonation. "From application to joining, Aadhaar authentication is mandatory. Though initial glitches delayed OTP verifications, the process has now stabilised. It also ensures complete confidentiality of the question paper and prevents leaks," he said. He added that new technology is being used to monitor private centres and curb external interference, ensuring that only verified infrastructure is used for upcoming exams.

Exam Centres to Be Closer

Regarding complaints of candidates being allotted distant centres, the SSC Chairman explained that the new vendor had initially struggled to secure adequate centres. He assured that "Now, 80% of candidates are getting centres as per their choices. From the CGL onwards, this will rise to over 90%. The maximum distance will also be reduced to 100km."

No Return to Pen-Paper Mode

Gopalakrishnan ruled out the possibility of reverting to pen-and-paper tests. "SSC exams involve crores of candidates. Pen-and-paper would increase risks of leaks, delays, and malpractice. CBT ensures security and timely results. With new technology, even colleges and universities can be used as centres, and question papers are delivered only minutes before the exam begins," he stated.

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