Recruitment candidates face travel disruptions in National Capital Region amid security curbs

NEW DELHI — Recruitment examination candidates in the National Capital Region faced severe travel disruptions on Saturday as authorities implemented stringent security clampdowns and travel curbs to thwart a planned protest by the Cockroach Janta Party against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The restrictions, which included metro station closures and train cancellations to New Delhi, triggered widespread anxiety among aspirants attempting to reach nationwide tests. Despite the logistical hurdles, major recruitment bodies pressed ahead with their schedules. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection conducted its IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam in multiple computer-based shifts across the country, including the NCR, with further tests scheduled for Sunday. Simultaneously, the Staff Selection Commission proceeded with its month-long SSC-CGL Tier 1 exam window running from September 30 to October 30.

The incident highlights the mounting friction between public safety measures in the national capital and the logistical rights of academic candidates, who bore the brunt of state-level security measures and political demonstrations.

Frustrated aspirants flooded social media platforms to report missed connections and lament the jeopardy facing months of preparation.

“IBPS has not cancelled the exam its we students who work hard suffer bcz of the political issues,” social media user Ankita Sagar posted on X. Another candidate, Abhinay Kumar, wrote that his IBPS Clerk exam was scheduled in Gwalior on October 11, questioning how he could reach the centre after authorities cancelled trains from Delhi. “My 1 year will be wasted,” he stated. Another user from Jabalpur reported that all trains to Delhi were cancelled due to the protest, placing academic futures at risk.

Aspirants are now bracing for potential repeat disruptions later in the month should protesters attempt to regroup at Jantar Mantar and prompt further security reactions. A packed schedule of examinations is lined up for October, including the Railway Recruitment Board Section Controller Exam on October 12 and 13, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Officer Grade A Exam on October 15, the Delhi Subordinate Service Selection Board exams beginning October 21, and the Indian Overseas Bank Specialist Officer Exam on October 31.