The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has cancelled the Constable (General Duty) Examination 2026 at several centres across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar due to widespread technical disruptions and administrative issues. The cancellations affected examination shifts in cities including Kanpur, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, and Muzaffarpur.
Widespread Disruptions Reported
According to official updates from the SSC, technical disruptions were reported at one centre each in Kanpur, Prayagraj, Lucknow, and Muzaffarpur during the forenoon shift on May 25, 2026. These disruptions led to the cancellation of tests scheduled at these centres, with affected candidates being rescheduled for subsequent dates. In Prayagraj, disruptions continued at a part of the iTech centre, prompting some candidates to advocate for a boycott and further impacting the ongoing examination at another section of the same venue. Consequently, the examination at this Prayagraj centre has been cancelled for all remaining days, and affected candidates will be rescheduled.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Monday second-shift examination at Maharishi IT Institute Online Examination Center in Gorakhpur was also cancelled, citing technical reasons. Similar problems were reported in Kanpur and Lucknow, where overcrowding occurred after examination centres were assigned more candidates than their capacity. The SSC has stated that it plans to complete the examination process for all candidates by May 31, 2026.
Candidate Protests and Vandalism
The disruptions triggered protests by candidates at several centres, who demanded the cancellation of the examination and alleged mismanagement and server failures. In Prayagraj, candidates staged protests over alleged mismanagement, with several claiming that technical glitches severely disrupted the examination process. The situation escalated as angered candidates, reportedly frustrated by server failures and inadequate arrangements, allegedly vandalised property within the premises. Protesting candidates also briefly blocked the Prayagraj–Varanasi GT Road, causing traffic disruption.
In Kanpur, similar scenes unfolded at the Shrimati Ramkali Iqbal Bahadur Online Centre in Maharajpur, where both examination shifts were cancelled due to overcrowding. Authorities discovered that the centre’s capacity was significantly exceeded by the number of candidates issued admit cards. Nearly 350 students had already entered the hall before the issue was realised. Some students reportedly attempted to block the Kanpur-Prayagraj National Highway before police intervened and restored order. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) confirmed that the situation was brought under control peacefully, denying reports of violence or vandalism at the venue.
SSC’s Response and Rescheduling Plans
The Staff Selection Commission has issued clarifications, dismissing reports of a paper leak or major discrepancies. The commission, in an official statement, admitted to technical disruptions at the affected centres and assured that candidates who could not appear in the cancelled shifts would be allowed to take the examination again on revised dates. Fresh admit cards and updated examination schedules will be released soon on the official SSC website. Aspirants are advised to regularly check the official portal for further notifications regarding rescheduled examinations and revised centre details.
The SSC GD Constable Examination 2026 commenced on April 27, 2026, and is being conducted across the country in multiple shifts at approximately 230 centres, with a scheduled conclusion of May 31, 2026. The recurring issues in the conduct of large-scale examinations have once again raised concerns regarding planning, infrastructure, and management of competitive recruitment processes in India.
The Chenab Times News Desk