What this SSC notice means — Simple, clear explanation
This article explains the official Staff Selection Commission (SSC) warning about discussing, analysing, or sharing SSC examination question papers or their contents on social media and other platforms. The Government of India has enacted the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and the SSC notice reminds everyone that leaking or circulating exam content is a serious legal offence under that law.
Key points in plain language
- Don't share questions or answers: Posting exam questions, answer keys, photos, screenshots, or step-by-step solutions to social platforms, messaging groups, video channels, or websites is strictly prohibited.
- It's a criminal offence: The Act treats such actions as cognizable (police can arrest), non-bailable (bail may be hard), and non-compoundable (cannot be settled privately).
- Serious penalties: Individuals can face imprisonment and heavy fines; institutions or service providers can face larger fines and disqualification from conducting or participating in exams.
Penalties summarized
The SSC notice highlights the penalties from the Act. Examples include:
- Individuals: 3 to 5 years imprisonment and up to ₹10 lakh fine.
- Service providers / coaching centres / platforms: Fines up to ₹1 crore, possible disqualification from future exam-related work.
- Organised criminals: 5 to 10 years imprisonment and a minimum fine of ₹1 crore.
What should candidates do?
- Do not capture or share exam pages, question screenshots, or answer keys in any form.
- If you receive leaked content, do not forward it. Report it immediately to the SSC or the official help channels.
- Use only authorised sources for preparation—official SSC notices, authorised coaching material, and practice tests that are published publicly by institutions.
What should content creators, teachers, and coaching centres do?
- Do not publish or discuss real exam questions from ongoing or recently held exams.
- When creating practice content, clearly label material as practice / sample / model questions and ensure they are not taken from or identical to live SSC question papers.
- If you are contacted with exam content, refuse to publish it and report the matter; preserve evidence and cooperate with authorities if required.
What should social platforms and group admins do?
- Monitor channels for exam leaks and quickly remove any content that appears to be restricted or from live exams.
- Have clear reporting options and escalate suspected leaks to law enforcement when required.
- Maintain logs and cooperate with official investigations—platforms may face penalties if they knowingly assist or ignore organised leak activities.
How to report suspected leaks
If you see or receive exam content that appears to be leaked, follow these steps:
- Do not share or forward the content.
- Take screenshots for your own record if required, but do not publish them publicly.
- Report to SSC through their official website/contact or the helpline mentioned in their official notice.
- If the content is on a platform, use that platform’s report function and note down the message IDs or links for the authorities.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I discuss general exam strategy or sample questions?
A: Yes. Discussing general strategies, past public question trends, or officially published sample papers is fine. The restriction applies to unauthorised circulation or discussion of live/ongoing/held question papers that are not meant to be public.
Q: What if a friend asks me to forward a leaked file?
A: Refuse and explain the legal risk. Forwarding or even storing stolen exam material may make you legally liable. Report the source instead.
Q: Will SSC punish honest candidates if they unknowingly see leaked content?
A: Each case is different. If you inadvertently encounter leaked content and do not share it, keep evidence of your non-distribution and report it. Intentionally sharing or using leaked content increases legal risk.
Practical tips to avoid trouble
- Remove yourself from groups that circulate exam content.
- Use only authorised study material and mark dubious sources as untrusted.
- If you run a coaching centre or channel, create a compliance policy for staff and contributors to avoid publishing any suspicious material.
- Keep records of communications if someone pressures you to share material—this can help if you need to show you refused.
Final message
The SSC and the Government have issued this warning to keep examinations fair and to protect the careers of millions of candidates. Sharing or promoting leaked exam content not only harms other candidates but can lead to life-changing legal consequences. Avoid it completely, report leaks, and help maintain the integrity of competitive examinations.
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