Current Context: The Union Government has introduced several changes in recruitment examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Staff Selection Commission (SSC).
Key Reforms:
- They are a series of measures introduced across 2025 and 2026 to speed up recruitment, prevent impersonation and make examinations more transparent.
- Faster Recruitment: Computer-based exams, quicker document verification and reduced processing time will help complete recruitment within a shorter period.
- AI-Based Verification: Artificial intelligence will be used to detect duplicate applications, impersonation, fake photographs and suspicious candidate details.
- Aadhaar Authentication: Aadhaar-based identity verification will help confirm the identity of candidates and prevent proxy candidates from appearing in examinations.
- Transparent Answer Keys: Candidates will be able to check their question papers, recorded responses and answer keys. They can also challenge incorrect answers.
- Lower Objection Fee: SSC reduced the fee for challenging an answer from ₹100 to ₹50 per question.
- Fair Normalisation: SSC uses the equi-percentile method to balance differences in difficulty levels among multiple examination shifts.
- Digital Question Papers: Encrypted question papers are sent through secure digital systems to reduce the risk of paper leaks.
- Better Grievance System: Online portals and helplines allow candidates to report technical issues, examination-centre problems and other complaints.
Question :
Q1.Which method is used by SSC to ensure fairness in examinations conducted in multiple shifts?
a) Negative marking
b) Equi-percentile normalisation
c) Separate merit lists
d) Interview-based selection
Answer: b) This method compares candidates on the basis of their percentile performance in each shift. It reduces the effect of differences in the difficulty level of question papers.
