Jharkhand cancels 44 recruitment exams over irregularities, sets up probe panel

The Jharkhand Government on Tuesday night (August 18, 2026) released a list of 44 recruitment examinations that have been cancelled due to irregularities, amid ongoing student protests over the issue. The cancellations follow a series of allegations of paper leaks and malpractices in state-level recruitment processes.

Issuing eight notifications late at night, the government said the cancelled examinations include those conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the outsourced agency TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL) since 2014. The move covers a wide range of posts, including drug inspectors, assistant professors, deputy collectors, dental doctors, assistant engineers, civil judges, additional public prosecutors and forest range officers.

Also cancelled are recruitments for lecturers in government polytechnics, senior scientific officers, assistant conservators of forests, and various other administrative and technical positions. The notifications state that the examinations were found to be tainted by irregularities, and the results already published from these exams will not be recognised.

In addition to the cancellations, the government has decided to approach the High Court with a request to constitute a fast-track court for hearing cases related to irregularities in JPSC and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). An internal vigilance cell will also be set up in both commissions to prevent future malpractices.

A committee formed for reforms in JPSC and JSSC, headed by senior IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal, will submit its report to the government within two months. The committee is expected to recommend systemic changes to ensure transparency and credibility in recruitment examinations.

The latest action comes after a cabinet meeting on Monday (August 17, 2026), in which the government announced the cancellation of the JSSC-Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination — one of the key demands of protesting students. That decision also covered all examinations conducted by TDPL and the results published by it.

Student groups have been demonstrating for weeks, demanding a thorough investigation into alleged leaks and a revamp of the recruitment process. The government’s decision to cancel the exams and institute reforms is seen as a step toward addressing these concerns, though some protestors have called for wider action, including action against those responsible for the irregularities.

Officials said the list of cancelled examinations is based on a detailed review, and further actions will be taken as per the findings of the inquiry committee. The government has assured candidates that fresh recruitment drives will be conducted in a transparent and timely manner.