Jharkhand cancels JPSC exams, but students continue stir demanding CBI probe

The Jharkhand government on Sunday announced the cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) preliminary examination and the JPSC backlog examinations held in 2023 and 2025, following six hours of talks with protesting student groups. The decision came after negotiations at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, where students have been camped for days demanding action over alleged irregularities in state recruitment exams.

However, student leaders remained firm on their demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged irregularities in the JSSC-CGL examination. They said the agitation would continue, including a march to the Jharkhand Assembly on Monday. The announcement coincided with the resignation of all three JPSC members. Chief Minister Hemant Soren assured protesters that justice would be delivered with full transparency.

State Technical and Higher Education Minister Sudivya Kumar said the government has accepted 98% of the demands. “The government has agreed with the demand for cancellation of the 14th JPSC and backlog examinations of 2023 and 2025,” he said. He added that the state cannot recommend a CBI probe into JSSC-CGL because it does not have jurisdiction over those examinations, which were conducted in line with High Court and Supreme Court directions.

The protesting groups, led by Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) and JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, are also demanding the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL and all exams connected to TSR Data Processing Private Limited, an entity that has been blacklisted. The government has not agreed to cancel these exams but has proposed a judicial probe under a retired judge and a CID investigation into the criminal angle.

Student delegation member Piyush Kumar called the government’s resolution “unacceptable.” He said, “We first want the cancellation of the exam and then the investigation.” Another delegation member, Chandan Kumar of JLKM, said there was no clarity over the timeline of the proposed measures.

The government also informed the protesters that a fast-track court would be established for speedy disposal of cases related to exam irregularities, with charge-sheets to be filed within 90 days. A panel comprising experts from IIT-ISM Dhanbad, IIM Ranchi, and XLRI Jamshedpur will be formed to suggest examination reforms, Minister Kumar said.

The talks began around noon and continued till 6:30 p.m. The government representatives met with three student delegations separately before holding a joint session. Protesters from across the state have been joining the agitation and are expected to participate in Monday's march. Five aspirants continue an indefinite hunger strike, including Devendra Mahto, whose fast entered its eighth day.

The situation remains tense as students reject the government’s partial concessions. With the JPSC members having resigned and a judicial probe promised, the onus is now on the government to address the deeper concerns around transparency and accountability in recruitment processes. The students’ insistence on a CBI probe reflects a broader distrust in state mechanisms, a sentiment that has fueled the protests. The coming days will test whether the government’s measures can restore confidence or if the agitation will intensify.