Jharkhand government cancels JPSC exam; protests to continue till CBI probe ordered, say students

On August 9, 2026, the Jharkhand government announced the cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) preliminary examination and the backlog exams held in 2023 and 2025, following discussions with protesting student groups. However, students insisted on a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination, and vowed to continue their protests.

All three JPSC members resigned, and Chief Minister Hemant Soren assured that "justice will be delivered with full transparency." The State's Technical and Higher Education Minister, Sudivya Kumar, stated that the government had accepted "98% of the demands." However, the groups led by Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) and JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch demanded cancellation of the JSSC-CGL exams and those connected to a blacklisted agency, TSR Data Processing Private Limited.

The government promised a judicial probe and investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), but did not agree to cancel the TDPL-affiliated exams. Students rejected the resolution, stating that they first wanted the exam cancellation, then the investigation. A fast-track court will be established for the speedy disposal of cases on alleged exam irregularities, with a charge-sheet filed within 90 days.

A panel of experts from IIT-ISM Dhanbad, IIM Ranchi, and XLRI Jamshedpur will suggest examination reforms. However, Chandan Kumar from the JLKM delegation said there was "no clarity over the timeline." Protesters continued to join the agitation, with five aspirants on an indefinite hunger strike, including Devendra Mahto in his eighth day.