The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) has called for a bandh across Gujarat in protest against alleged irregularities in the Gujarat State Services Selection Board (GSSSB) clerk recruitment exam. The demand for a statewide strike comes after students and candidates raised strong objections over reported instances of answer-sheet tampering, leaked question papers, and other procedural lapses during the examination process.
NSUI leaders stated that thousands of aspirants who appeared for the GSSSB clerk exam felt their efforts were undermined by systemic failures in the conduct of the test. The student union has demanded an immediate suspension of the current results and a complete re-examination under the strictest surveillance measures, including video monitoring and deployment of EWS-level security protocols.
The GSSSB is responsible for conducting recruitment examinations for various group C and D posts in the Gujarat government. The clerk-level recruitment through this board is one of the most sought-after government job opportunities in the state, attracting lakhs of applicants from across Gujarat and neighbouring states each cycle. Candidates typically invest significant time and resources preparing for these competitive examinations, making any allegation of unfairness particularly sensitive.
Student activists across several cities in Gujarat have been holding rallies and Dharnas demanding transparency in the selection process. NSUI has warned that if the state government does not take suo motu cognizance and order a fair retest within a stipulated timeframe, the bandh call will be intensified, potentially affecting education institutions, government offices, and public transportation across the state.
Education officials and government sources have not yet issued a detailed response to the allegations. However, opposition political parties in the Gujarat Assembly have also started raising the issue, with some MLAs demanding a judicial inquiry into the matter. Legal experts note that if the irregularities are proven, the board may be legally obligated to conduct a fresh examination, as the right to fair competition in government recruitment is protected under Indian constitutional principles.
The episode highlights ongoing concerns about the integrity of state-level public service recruitment exams in India, where candidate agitation over alleged malpractice has become increasingly common in recent years.
