The Jharkhand government on Sunday cancelled three state public service exams (JPSC) amid mounting agitations and hunger strikes by student protesters that have reached their 16th day.
The three exams that were cancelled include the 14th JPSC, which was conducted back in April this year, as well as the 2023 and 2025 editions of the JPSC as well.
In addition to cancelling these three exams, the Hemant Soren-led government has also expressed willingness to put previous examinations conducted by the agency in-charge, Lucknow-based TSR Data Processing Private Limited, promising strict action if issues are found, an NDTV report said, citing sources.
The state government has also promised a fast-track court and that chargesheets related to exam irregularities would be filed in 90 days.
However, the protesters have decided to continue their agitation, stating that their key demands—a CBI probe into the alleged issues with the exams, as well as action over alleged problems with the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Examination (JSSC) examinations—were unmet.
However, the Jharkhand government rejected the CGL demand, as minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu pointed out that the examination had been conducted under directions of the High Court and the Supreme Court, and remained under judicial monitoring, due to which it could not be cancelled.
He added that the results of the exam had already been declared, and the successful candidates had already been admitted into the service.
This comes after the Jharkhand government began a sixth round of talks with the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch on Sunday, after previous rounds of talks with various student groups failed to bear fruit.
However, keeping in mind the mental struggles faced by students after the NEET paper leak case led to the May exam results getting nullified, it is yet to be seen how the move could affect students who have already written these exams.
The protests at Ranchi's Jaipal Singh Munda stadium continue strongly, recently garnering the support of even the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the All India Students' Association (AISA).
Yet, negotiations between the students and the government remain deadlocked, as the students have decided to continue protesting till all their demands have been met.
Taking a page out of the CJP playbook, they have even warned of a march to the Legislative Assembly on August 10 if their issues are not fully resolved by then.
"The solution to every issue lies in dialogue, not in the use of batons or bullets," the CM told reporters on Sunday. In the meantime, the state government also reached out to Devendra Nath Mahto, one of the key faces of the student protests in the state, who has been on a hunger strike over the past eight days.
Though a number of ministers urged Mahto to break his fast due to his deteriorating health, he declared that he would take a decision on it based on the results of the sixth round of talks.
