Over 60% of registered candidates skip SSC CGL Tier-1 on day one in UP and Bihar
More than 60 per cent of registered candidates did not appear at exam centres in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on the first day of SSC CGL 2026 Tier-1.
The Staff Selection Commission's Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) examination is considered very important by young people preparing for government jobs. But the first day of SSC CGL 2026 Tier-1 brought a worrying picture. At exam centres in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, more than 60 per cent of registered candidates did not take the test.
The enthusiasm young people showed while filling in the application form had gone cold by the time they were to reach the exam hall. The trend is not limited to one day or one state. It points to a changing outlook among young people preparing for competitive examinations.
The Staff Selection Commission is recruiting for a total of 10,731 Group B and Group C posts. These include thousands of posts of inspector and tax assistant in well-known departments such as the CBIC and the CBDT. Despite a recruitment of this size, empty chairs at the centres give cause for thought.
The reasons for not appearing could be incomplete preparation or last-minute stress. It is also being said that, with opportunities growing in the private sector, young people are now taking carefully considered and selective steps.
The recruitment will fill a total of 10,731 posts in various ministries of the Central government. Of these, 4,412 posts are for the General category, 2,772 for OBC, 1,028 for EWS, 1,715 for SC and 804 for ST. The inspector and tax assistant posts in the CBIC and the CBDT are the biggest draw.
Young people often fill in the form without studying, following their friends or under pressure from family. As the exam nears, they begin to fear failure. The exam is also a computer-based test (CBT), in which 100 questions have to be solved in just 60 minutes. There is also the fear of negative marking, so many candidates avoid going to the centre at all.
What the exodus will mean for the cut-off is also being discussed. For serious candidates who work steadily at their studies, this is good news. Absenteeism of more than 60 per cent has reduced the competition considerably. It will have a direct effect on the Tier-1 cut-off and on the overall competition. For candidates who study with a sound strategy, reaching the Tier-2 exam in December may be somewhat easier.
