SSC's New Guidelines on Scribe Assistance and Compensatory Time for PwD Exam Candidates

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has issued updated guidelines on scribe assistance for candidates with benchmark disabilities (PwBD) and persons with disabilities (PwD), clarifying the eligibility criteria and procedural requirements. The notice is now available on the official website ssc.gov.in.

In accordance with established guidelines, SSC offers compensatory time and the assistance of a scribe to eligible PwBD candidates with a minimum of 40% disability. Specifically, candidates who fall under categories such as blindness, locomotor disability (affecting both arms), and cerebral palsy may request a scribe's assistance if needed.

For other PwBD categories, candidates must present a certificate, issued by a Chief Medical Officer, Civil Surgeon, or Medical Superintendent from a government healthcare institution, verifying the necessity of a scribe due to physical limitations. This certificate must follow the proforma provided in Annexure-I of the official notice.

SSC clarified that PwD candidates requiring scribe or passage reader assistance must indicate their need on the Online Application Form. Eligible candidates may choose to bring their own scribe or use one provided by the SSC.

Key Points for Candidates Choosing Their Own Scribe

1. Scribes must complete One Time Registration (OTR) on the SSC website before assisting.
2. A single scribe is restricted to assisting only one candidate per examination.
3. Candidates cannot act as scribes for others in the same exam.
4. Scribe qualifications must be at least one step below the candidate's qualification level.

Any breach of these conditions will result in cancellation of the candidate's application, potential debarment, and, if necessary, criminal action against the scribe, the Commission warned.

Candidates who qualify for a scribe will also receive an additional 20 minutes per hour of examination. For exams lasting less than an hour, compensatory time will be allocated on a pro-rata basis.