JPSC cancellation demand met, but Jharkhand students hold firm on CBI probe
Members of the Jharkhand ministerial committee, including Ministers Deepika Pandey Singh, Sudivya Kumar Sonu and others, address the media alongside student organisation representatives after a high-level. . .
Members of the Jharkhand ministerial committee, including Ministers Deepika Pandey Singh, Sudivya Kumar Sonu and others, address the media alongside student organisation representatives after a high-level meeting regarding JPSC and JSSC examination concerns, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. | PTIProtesting students in Jharkhand on Sunday (August 9) said their demand for cancellation of the JPSC exam had been accepted, but they would continue their agitation until the state government announced a CBI probe. Student leaders said they would march to the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10 and were “not ready for compromise” without a CBI probe. The talks broke down despite multiple rounds of negotiations and several concessions from the government, including its decision to cancel the 14th JPSC examination, order probes into alleged irregularities and introduce reforms in the recruitment system. Govt announces two-pronged probe“Following three days of talks and extensive consultations, and acting on the instructions of CM Hemant Soren, the government decided to address the irregularities associated with the 14th GPSC and the 2023-25 backlog recruitments through a two-pronged approach. Criminal aspects will be investigated by the CID; furthermore, given the financial implications and evidence of illicit financial transactions, a request will be made for an ED investigation,” Sonu said, according to news agencyANI. He said a fast-track court would subsequently be set up and charge sheets against the accused would be filed within 90 days. On reforms, Sonu said the government would form a committee of experts from IIT-ISM, IIM Ranchi and XLRI to guide the process. CGL cancellation remains sticking point“Following these discussions, student representatives demanded the cancellation of the CGL examination. The government clearly stated that, as the examination was conducted in accordance with the directives of the High Court and the Supreme Court, and is currently under their monitoring, it lacks the authority to cancel it,” he said. The government offered to constitute a monitoring committee headed by a retired judge to oversee the investigation, but the students rejected the proposal. “We believe the government agreed to 98 percent of the points raised. The remaining two percent, specifically the demand to cancel the CGL exam, could not be met because the government cannot unilaterally cancel an exam conducted under court orders, where results have been published, and successful candidates are already employed,” Sonu said. Three JPSC members tender resignationJPSC members Dr Ajita Bhattacharya, Dr Anima Hansda and Dr Jamal Ahmed submitted their resignations to the governor. Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar accepted the resignations of the three JPSC members following a recommendation from the state government, according to the Governor’s office. ‘Dialogue, not batons, can solve problems’Earlier today, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren warned political parties against allegedly misleading students protesting over recruitment examination irregularities, saying the ongoing agitation should not be politicised. Soren said the government was committed to addressing the protesters’ concerns through dialogue and transparency. He stressed that force was not the answer to the students' demands. “Dialogue, not batons, can solve problems; weapons for enemies at border,” the chief minister said, promising justice to exam protesters through a transparent process, reported news agencyPTI.