Overview

• Posting on X on September 9, the Staff Selection Commission told candidates, content creators, coaching centres, and social platforms not to discuss, analyse, or circulate contents of ongoing or recently held SSC question papers.
• The advisory cites the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, with Section 3 defining such dissemination as unfair means and Sections 9 and 10 making offences cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable.
• Penalties outlined include 3–5 years’ imprisonment and fines up to ₹10 lakh for individuals, up to ₹1 crore for institutions along with possible disqualification and cost recovery, and 5–10 years plus at least ₹1 crore for organised crime.
• The Commission urged stakeholders to report suspected leaks and to help preserve examination integrity rather than engage with prohibited content.
• Early reactions from aspirants on social media criticized the directive for curbing common study practices and speech, with no arrests or prosecutions reported in current coverage.