Jamshedpur: The Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exam concluded today, but not without controversy. To prevent malpractices during the exam, mobile internet services were shut down from 8 am to 1:30 pm on both Saturday and Sunday, causing significant disruptions for businesses, students, and working professionals.
JSSC Exam and Internet Shutdown: Mixed Reactions from Candidates and Public pic.twitter.com/R2LX1RKNvN
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The internet shutdown had a substantial impact on small businesses, with many reporting huge losses due to the inability to process online payments. UPI payment services were down, affecting transactions from tea shops to large malls. It is estimated that transactions worth crores were affected. The shutdown also impacted petrol pumps and various shops, leading to a decrease in customers.
While broadband internet remained functional, most customers rely on mobile internet, leading to difficulties in accessing online banking services. Students who depend on the internet for study materials were also troubled. However, some students supported the shutdown, stating that it was beneficial for ensuring a fair examination process and that people can manage without the internet.
Report Prem Kumar Srivastava & Jaswinder Singh
