SSC warns aspirants against discussion and circulation of question papers: Notice highlights legal implications under new act

The Staff Selection Commission ( SSC ) has issued a stern warning to candidates regarding the discussion, analysis, or circulation of examination question papers on social media and other platforms. This move comes under the recently enacted Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 (PEA Act, 2024), designed to ensure the sanctity of public examinations across India. The Act criminalises unauthorized access, possession, or sharing of question papers, answer keys, or any part of the exam content.

Offences under the Act are cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable, and can lead to imprisonment, hefty fines, and disqualification from future exams. The SSC’s warning highlights the risks posed by online leaks and emphasises the responsibility of aspirants, coaching institutions, and digital platforms in maintaining fair examination practices.
Understanding the legal framework: PEA Act, 2024The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 provides a clear legal framework to tackle unfair practices in examinations. Key provisions include:

• Section 3 – Unfair Means: Prohibits the leakage, disclosure, possession, or dissemination of question papers, answer keys, or any part thereof without proper authority.
  
• Section 9 – Nature of Offences: All offences are considered cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable, which means that legal proceedings can begin immediately and cannot be settled privately.
  
• Section 10 – Penalties:
  
• Individuals may face imprisonment of 3–5 years and fines up to ₹10 lakh.
  
• Service providers or institutions involved in dissemination may be fined up to ₹1 crore, disqualified from future exams, and liable for recovery of costs.
  
• Organised crime groups can face imprisonment of 5–10 years and fines not less than ₹1 crore.

This stringent legal framework underlines the seriousness with which the government views examination malpractice .
SSC’s warning and advisory to candidatesThe SSC has explicitly warned candidates, coaching centres, content creators, and social media platforms to avoid any discussion, analysis, or circulation of SSC question papers. The Commission emphasises that such activities compromise examination integrity, create unfair advantages, and violate the law. Candidates are urged to report any suspected leaks or unauthorized sharing to the authorities immediately.

The warning also serves as a reminder to digital platforms and coaching institutes that they cannot host, share, or promote examination content illegally. Violation may attract heavy penalties, legal action, and future disqualification.
Reactions from aspirants and educatorsThe SSC’s directive has sparked mixed reactions among aspirants. Many candidates agree that maintaining examination integrity is critical, particularly in a highly competitive environment. However, some have criticised the move as overly restrictive or “dictatorial”, arguing that discussion and analysis of questions often help peer learning and improve understanding.

Educators point out that while learning from discussion is valuable, it must be done within legal boundaries, such as analysing mock tests or previous year papers legally released by SSC, rather than sharing live question papers.
Implications for candidates and institutionsThe SSC warning serves as a reminder of the serious legal implications of violating the PEA Act, 2024:

• Candidates: Must refrain from sharing, discussing, or posting SSC question papers online, as it may lead to imprisonment, fines, and exam disqualification.
  
• Coaching institutes: Must ensure that no staff or students participate in illegal dissemination of exam content, as institutions are also liable under the law.
  
• Social media platforms: Should monitor and remove prohibited content to avoid penalties.

This approach underscores the importance of responsibility and ethical conduct in examinations.