Jharkhand Exam Leak: CID Report Found 120 Questions Leaked, But Second Probe Disputed It
The Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission's Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination, held in September 2024, was marred by allegations of a paper leak. A CID investigation reportedly found that 120 of 150 questions were leaked and circulated via WhatsApp, with answer keys provided to candidates in several locations, including Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Patna, West Bengal, and Nepal. However, the state government subsequently shelved this report and ordered a second investigation that dismissed the leak claims, leading to sustained student protests.
The JSSC-CGL exam was conducted on September 21 and 22, 2024, after a previous round was cancelled due to similar leak allegations. To prevent another leak, internet services were suspended across Jharkhand during the re-exam. Despite these measures, an aspirant claimed that answers were made available through landline phones and even dictated to candidates before the exam.
Jeet Kumar, one of the aspirants, told NDTV that they received answers, not questions, before the exam. After the test, it was confirmed that the answers were correct. Kumar and others filed a petition in a Ranchi court, presenting a photocopy of the answers as evidence. Some candidates had written down the answers while discussing questions with friends. One image, timestamped 7:23 am on September 22, 2024, was recorded at Bishnupur in Jamshedpur, just before the exam began.
The CID concluded its investigation in March 2025 and submitted a report stating that 120 out of 150 questions were leaked. Shortly after, the state government shelved the report and constituted a second Special Investigation Team (SIT). The second SIT effectively dismissed the leak allegations, and no further progress was made in the case. This prompted frustration among students, which escalated after a similar leak was reported during the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination.
Student protests, led by Devendra Nath Mahto, have been ongoing at Ranchi's Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium for over two weeks. Several rounds of talks between the government and student representatives have not yet yielded a resolution. Jharkhand Minister Deepika Singh, who participated in the talks, acknowledged the students' concerns as valid and stated that the government is ready to address them. She added that a solution would be reached soon.
The incident highlights systemic challenges in conducting fair recruitment examinations in the state and the need for transparent processes. The state government has not yet issued a public statement on the CID report or the second SIT's findings.
