SSC to provide scribe to candidates with benchmark disability

New Delhi, Sep 4 (PTI) The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will provide scribe to eligible candidates appearing in different recruitment examinations conducted by it, an official statement said.

The decision follows comprehensive guidelines issued on August 1, 2025, by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, it said.

As per the guidelines, the commission has decided to implement the provisions contained therein and to do away with the provision of "own scribe".

"It is clarified that for PwBD (Person with Benchmark Disability) candidates who are eligible for availing of the services of a scribe for SSC exams, such scribe shall be provided only by the Commission," said the notice issued on Wednesday.

The SSC said that the provision will pally to all the examinations of the commission being held after the date of issue of the notice.

This is also applicable to the examinations that are to be held henceforth, for which the submission of application forms has been concluded, it added.

It also shared a copy of the guidelines issued by the DEPwD along with the notice.

According to the DEPwD guidelines, the scribe, if at all permitted, because of the refusal by the candidate to use technology, has to be provided by the examining bodies (EBs).

The examining bodies should encourage candidates to take exams independently using software-enabled laptops, desktops, Braille devices, large-print devices, or recording devices, the guidelines read.

"In cases where the candidate opts for a scribe rather than using technology, EBs will provide scribes rigorously identified from their pool," it added.

In cases where the candidate opts for a scribe rather than the use of technology, the qualification of the scribe must be a minimum of "two academic years below" and a maximum of "three academic years below" the minimum qualification for appearing in that examination, it said.

For example, if the minimum qualification for appearing in the SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination is a graduate, the scribe's qualification may be in the first academic year of graduation (for a 3 year course), but not below the 12th standard running, the guidelines further said.

The SSC is one of the largest recruitment agencies of the central government, with its primary mandate to conduct selections for non-gazetted posts in various central ministries and departments, among others. PTI AKV AKV OZ OZ