Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Jharkhand cancels recruitment exams; students may end protest
In Jharkhand, a state in India, many students were upset because they thought their government job exams were not fair.
They started a protest on July 25, and some stopped eating to show how serious they were.
The students wanted the government to cancel the exams and investigate what went wrong.
On Monday, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the government would cancel the main exam and other tests run by a company called TDPL.
The students were happy and celebrated by waving the Indian flag.
But they still want a deeper investigation by the CBI, so some are not ready to stop the protest yet.
Some people who already passed the exam and got jobs are worried the cancellation could leave them jobless.
The government also set up a committee to fix how exams are run in the future.
Now everyone is waiting to see if the students will end their protest on Tuesday.
There are also different reports about whether one or more of the hunger-striking students broke their fast.
The Jharkhand government cancelled the JSSC-CGL exam and all recruitment tests conducted by outsourced agency TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL) since 2014.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the decision after a marathon cabinet meeting at the state secretariat in Ranchi on Monday.
Protesting students may decide on Tuesday whether to withdraw their agitation, which entered its 25th day.
Student leader Devendra Mahto broke his 16-day hunger strike; reports differ on whether other protesters also ended their fast.
Successful candidates opposed the cancellation, saying it could render around 2,000 people jobless, while protesters continue to demand a CBI probe.
- Who
- Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the Jharkhand government; student leaders and protesters of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, including Devendra Mahto, Rahul Kranti and Piyush Kumar; successful JSSC-CGL candidates who counter-protested; opposition BJP leader Babulal Marandi.
- What
- The government cancelled the JSSC-CGL exam and all recruitment tests conducted by TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL) since 2014 over alleged irregularities, while protesters continue to demand a CBI probe.
- When
- Announced on Monday, August 18, after a cabinet meeting; protesters may decide on Tuesday whether to call off the agitation, which entered its 25th day.
- Where
- Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
- Why
- Students alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and demanded cancellation of the exams and a CBI probe; the government cited "surprising factors" found by the CID and a special investigation team.
Protesting students and opposition
Government and successful candidates
CBI probe
Protesting students and opposition
Protesters say the agitation will continue until the government accepts their demand for a CBI probe into the alleged examination irregularities.
Government and successful candidates
The government has not accepted the CBI probe demand, saying the CID and special investigation team probe has surfaced "surprising factors" that cannot be disclosed at this juncture.
Cancellation of exams
Protesting students and opposition
Protesters demanded the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL exam and all TDPL-conducted tests; student leader Piyush Kumar says the protest continues until all demands, including clarity on CDPO/FSO exams and the age cut-off, are met.
Government and successful candidates
Successful candidates who cleared the exam oppose the cancellation, saying it could render around 2,000 people jobless.
Status of the agitation
Protesting students and opposition
Some protesters, including Rahul Kranti and Piyush Kumar, insist the protest is not over and will continue until every demand is accepted.
Government and successful candidates
The government has stated the protest is over after meeting the students' demands, and hunger-striking leader Devendra Mahto has broken his fast.
Government accountability
Protesting students and opposition
The BJP and protesters accuse the ruling JMM-Congress alliance of inaction and have sought Soren's resignation; Babulal Marandi warns more youth may take to the streets.
Government and successful candidates
The government says it will strictly implement the Jharkhand Competitive Examination Prevention and Redressal of Unfair Means in Recruitment Act and has formed a reforms committee to strengthen the process.
- Cancelled exams
- JSSC-CGL and all recruitment tests conducted by TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL) since 2014, including published results
- Chief Minister
- Hemant Soren
- Protest group
- JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch
- Hunger strike
- Devendra Mahto ended his 16-day fast; reports differ on whether other protesters also broke theirs
- Reforms committee
- Headed by senior IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal
- Key unresolved demand
- CBI probe into alleged exam irregularities
- Counter-protest
- Successful candidates say around 2,000 people could be rendered jobless
- Planned gherao
- August 20 at the Chief Minister's residence in Ranchi
Sources
Jharkhand Government Cancels JSSC-CGL, TDPL Exams After Student Protests
Students may call off protest on Tuesday after J’khand job exams cancelled over ‘anomalies’
Jharkhand students may call off protest today
