New Delhi – The Staff Selection Commission (SSC), responsible for conducting examinations for lakhs of government job aspirants, has recently awarded its Computer Based Testing (CBT) contract to Eduquity Career Technologies a move that has sparked serious concerns given the company’s chequered past of Eduquity SSC Exam Contract.
In 2020, Eduquity was declared ineligible by the Central Directorate of Training for government exam work following reported irregularities. Fast forward to 2025, the same vendor has made a strong comeback, clinching one of the most sensitive public contracts: the Eduquity SSC Exam Contract. This raises key questions about procurement standards, risk assessments, and the implications for exam integrity.
Eduquity’s Ban: A Recap
Eduquity was barred in 2020 after multiple procedural lapses were uncovered during its handling of government recruitment exams. The nature of these irregularities included technical failures, logistical mismanagement, and suspected paper leaks.
Despite this, in recent years, Eduquity was awarded several major government examination contracts, including:
- Madhya Pradesh Patwari Exam
- Maharashtra MBA CET
- Other state level recruitment tests
Many of these exams were marred by controversies, such as question paper leaks, last minute cancellations, and mass miscommunication with candidates. These issues were widely reported on social media and by student activist groups.
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How Did Eduquity Win SSC’s CBT Tender?
The Eduquity SSC Exam Contract was awarded under the Quality Cost Based Selection (QCBS) model, where both technical competence and financial bid are evaluated.
Here’s how the selection unfolded:
- Eduquity quoted ₹273 crore for SSC’s CBT cycle
- TCS, the long time and trusted vendor, quoted around ₹450 crore
- Under QCBS, Eduquity scored enough on technical parameters and significantly outbid others financially
But what about its past?
The decision has raised eyebrows because:
- The 2020 ban on Eduquity was not permanent
- SSC’s 2025 tender did not explicitly exclude previously barred vendors
- Eduquity cleared the minimum required technical marks
So while many may find the decision controversial, technically, it complied with tender norms.
Chaos in SSC Exams: First Sign of Trouble?
Eduquity’s very first SSC assignment CBT delivery for a nationwide recruitment exam has already triggered criticism and student outrage.
Issues reported include:
- Cancelled centres at places like Hubli and Pawan Ganga
- Infrastructure failures and lack of coordination at multiple venues
- Students forced to travel 300–500 km, only to find centres non-operational
- Long delays and last minute rescheduling
On ground visuals and testimonies from affected students have gone viral, showing helpless aspirants stuck at locked exam centres with no officials present.
SSC’s Multi Vendor Strategy Explained
To be fair, Eduquity is not managing the entire exam cycle.
SSC has divided responsibilities as follows:
| Responsibility | Vendor Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Question Paper Creation | Separate Vendor | Handles content and question bank design |
| Exam Software | Separate Vendor | Develops and maintains the test platform and UI |
| CBT / Exam Delivery | Eduquity | Manages exam centre logistics, invigilation & system setup |
This separation aims to minimize the impact of a single vendor’s failure. However, since Eduquity handles physical exam logistics, the first point of contact for students, failures in CBT delivery still have huge implications.
Why This Matters
SSC conducts exams for over 1 crore aspirants annually. From CGL to CHSL, these exams decide the fate of millions seeking government jobs.
A vendor with a tainted track record and history of examination chaos must be scrutinized before being entrusted with such critical duties.
While cost saving is crucial for public tenders, integrity, reliability, and accountability must be paramount when the lives and careers of so many are at stake.
Expert Reactions and Concerns
Speaking to The News Drill, an exam reform activist from Delhi said: “This is not about money saved, but trust lost. Eduquity has a long history of mismanagement and technical failures. How can SSC justify giving it such a massive responsibility again?”
Students’ unions and coaching groups in Bhopal, Pune, and Kanpur have demanded an independent audit of the tender process, citing Eduquity’s past controversies.
What’s Next?
- SSC has not yet responded officially to the outcry
- Eduquity has not issued a statement addressing the exam day failures
- An RTI has been filed seeking full documentation of the SSC tender process
If SSC exams continue facing CBT delivery issues, litigation and protests are likely.
Final Word
The awarding of the Eduquity SSC Exam Contract despite its past ban and controversies is a concerning precedent. While procedural compliance may have been met, the real test lies in execution.
For students who dream of serving the nation, even a single cancelled exam is a major setback. SSC must uphold transparency, fairness, and reliability at all costs.
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