It depends on the exam. SSC CGL's DEST and CPCT let you correct what you type, BSSC LDC locks Backspace and Delete completely, RSSB Clerk lets you fix only the word you are still typing, and several notices say nothing at all.
This matters more than it looks. If you always practise with Backspace and then sit a test where it is locked, your habit of going back to fix every slip will break your rhythm on the day. Here is what each notice says.
Exam by exam
| Exam (notice) | Backspace and editing |
|---|---|
| SSC CGL DEST (2026 notice) | Allowed. You may revise and correct your text within the time, and you need not retype the passage if you finish early. |
| SSC CHSL LDC/JSA and DEO (2026 notice) | The typing rules in the notice put no limit on editing, and our practice allows Backspace. Read the instructions that come with your admit card. |
| CPCT (Rule Book v1.5, 2026) | Allowed. The test is "Unrestricted", so typed text can be corrected or deleted. |
| RSSB Clerk Grade-II / Junior Assistant (2026) | Speed test: only to correct the word you are typing, before you press Space or Enter. Efficiency test: allowed. |
| BSSC LDC (2026 notice) | Not allowed. Backspace and Delete are locked and no shortcut keys work. |
| RRB NTPC, 2025 cycle | Editing tools are not permitted. This comes from an older RRB notice we could see only in part, so check your own CBTST notice. |
| Delhi High Court JJA, Punjab Clerk, DSSSB LDC (all 2026) | The notice does not say. |
| Agniveer Clerk / SKT (recruiting year 2027) | The notification does not say. |
| UPSSSC Junior Assistant (2026 test) | Not confirmed in an official document. |
RRB NTPC notices issued in 2026 have no typing test at all; typing is checked after joining.
Why the rule matters for your score
In SSC-style checking, a wrong or misspelt word is a full mistake, while a spacing or punctuation slip is a half mistake. Where Backspace works, fixing a misspelt word at once removes a full mistake. Where it is locked, the slip stays, and the only thing you control is how quickly you move on.
Some exams mark only exact words. In the RSSB speed test, marks come only from words typed exactly right, and in CPCT your net speed counts correct words. In both, one clean word is worth more than a fast, broken one.
How to practise for each rule
- Backspace allowed: correct a word only when you notice the slip straight away. Do not hunt for old mistakes in the middle of the test; a long pause can cost more speed than a half mistake costs.
- Backspace locked: turn Backspace off in practice. Read a few words ahead, slow down a little and keep going after a slip. Accuracy carries more weight here: BSSC LDC disqualifies above 1.5% errors.
- Current word only: look at each word before you press Space. Once you press it, that word is final.
When the notice is silent
Check the instructions with your admit card and the official mock test, if the board offers one. DSSSB keeps a mock test on its site, and RSSB posts a mock-test link about 15 days before its Phase II. Until you know the rule, practise both ways so that neither one surprises you.
What to do next
Pick your exam from the exam typing tests; each one copies the Backspace rule of its notice. For free practice, use English typing or Hindi typing and switch Backspace off to train for a locked test.