I write this petition from a place of deep personal frustration and disappointment. Despite earning an Honours degree in Computer Science with approximately 82% marks, I have been unable to secure even a single opportunity to appear for the SSC Tech Army selection in the past two years. This has been due to the severely limited number of seats and the disproportionately high cutoffs for women candidates — particularly in the Computer Science branch, where the cutoff has reached an alarming 87%.

In stark contrast, male candidates are required to meet only a 60% cutoff, with a far greater number of seats and chances whereas women seats cumulative of all branches is 31 and for men entry is 350. Such gender-based disparity is deeply discouraging and inconsistent with the principles of equality and meritocracy that our Constitution upholds.

Under Article 14 (Right to Equality), Article 15(1) (Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of sex), and Article 16(1) (Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment), every citizen deserves equal access to opportunities based on merit, not gender. The current policy — where male and female candidates are judged by different standards despite applying under a unified notification — violates these constitutional principles.

Technical roles such as those in SSC Tech are cerebral and skill-based, not physically segregated in duty or responsibility. Women who have worked hard to earn high academic scores should not be denied even a single chance to serve simply because of unequal structural limits.

It is time for the Indian Army’s SSC Tech selection process to adopt gender-neutral cutoffs, similar to what is already practiced in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) entry. This change would not only ensure fairness but also strengthen the Army’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.

With my final attempt approaching in SSC Tech 67, the dream of serving my nation feels unfairly distant — not due to lack of merit, but because of an inequitable system.

I respectfully urge the Ministry of Defence and the Directorate General of Recruiting to review this inequitable cutoff policy and align it with the constitutional promise of equality. Let merit — not gender — determine opportunity.

Sign this petition to support gender-neutral cutoffs in SSC Tech Army recruitment.
Together, we can ensure that every aspirant, regardless of gender, is given a fair and equal chance to serve the nation.