The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has announced a welcome change for aspirants of the 2025 examinations by opening a self-slot and city selection window for the Engineering (Junior Engineer) and Sub-Inspector (SI) exams. 

From November 10 to November 13, 2025 (till 11 pm), candidates applying for the JE examination can log in to the SSC portal and pick their preferred examination city and date. For those appearing in the SI (Delhi Police & CAPF) exam, the slot-selection window opens from November 17 to November 21, 2025. 

Once a candidate submits a slot and city choice, it is treated as final—no changes or representations will be entertained. The SSC emphasises that if a candidate doesn’t select a slot in the stipulated time, the system will automatically allocate one in any opted-for city (based on availability). 

This move is significant because it gives candidates more control over when and where they sit the exam, helping those managing travel, preparation scheduling and personal commitments. It may also reduce last-minute stress about city allocation and logistics.

The JE exam covers 5,308 posts and the SI Paper-I also covers 5,308 posts, scheduled for December 2025. In a competitive recruitment environment, this flexibility could act as a relief for many aspirants, especially those travelling from other states or rural areas.

However, candidates must act promptly: missing the window means losing the choice altogether, and being stuck with an automatically allocated slot. It also raises questions about fairness of city allocation if many candidates skip the window, possibly leaving remaining slots in less preferred locations.

In summary, SSC’s self-slot selection is a positive step towards candidate-centric processes and a smoother exam experience. For those preparing, the takeaway is clear: log in in time, select your slot consciously, and plan ahead for travel and exam day logistics.