Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Three JPSC Members Resign as Jharkhand Approves Probes, Fast-Track Court
Some people in the Indian state of Jharkhand wanted government jobs, but they believed the tests to get those jobs were unfair.
They protested for many days in the city of Ranchi, and some even stopped eating food.
Three leaders of the group that runs the tests quit their jobs after police questioned them.
The state government said it would investigate the unfair tests.
Police detectives and a special money-checking agency will look into what happened.
A special fast court will be set up, and anyone found guilty will be charged within 90 days.
The government also promised to make the tests better with help from smart schools like IIM Ranchi.
Students still want the government to cancel the older tests and bring in the CBI, a national investigating agency, but the government says it cannot cancel tests that judges ordered.
The government asked a retired judge to watch over the investigation, but the students said no.
Both sides are still talking and trying to agree.
Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar accepted the resignations of JPSC members Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmed on Sunday.
The government announced CID and ED investigations into alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC and 2023-25 backlog recruitments, promising charge sheets within 90 days.
An expert committee with representatives from IIT-ISM, IIM Ranchi and XLRI will be formed to recommend recruitment reforms.
Protesting students rejected a monitoring committee headed by a retired judge and kept demanding a CBI inquiry, which the government did not accept.
Students still demand cancellation of post-2019 CGL and related exams, which the government says it cannot unilaterally order because they were conducted under Supreme Court and High Court directions.
- Who
- Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu, three JPSC members (Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda, Jamal Ahmed) and JPSC/JSSC aspirants protesting alleged recruitment irregularities.
- What
- Acceptance of three JPSC members' resignations and an action plan covering CID and ED probes, cancellation of the 14th JPSC and 2023-25 backlog exams, a fast-track court and an expert committee over alleged recruitment irregularities.
- When
- Sunday, after three days of talks between the state government and protesting students; protests have continued for over two weeks.
- Where
- Ranchi, Jharkhand, including the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium protest site and Lok Bhavan.
- Why
- Alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations, which aspirants demanded be investigated through an independent agency and reformed.
Protesting Students
Jharkhand Government
CBI vs CID/ED Investigation
Protesting Students
Students insist on a CBI inquiry, saying only it can expose the 'big fish' involved and that the resignations alone do not ensure accountability.
Jharkhand Government
The government ordered a CID probe into criminal aspects and said it would request an ED investigation over suspected financial irregularities and illicit transactions.
Cancellation of Post-2019 Exams
Protesting Students
Students demand cancellation of all JSSC CGL, JSSC JE and PGT exams held after 2019, as well as JPSC ACF and RFO matters, citing a crisis of trust.
Jharkhand Government
The government says it cannot unilaterally cancel CGL exams conducted under High Court and Supreme Court directions and judicial monitoring, with results published and candidates already employed.
Oversight Mechanism
Protesting Students
Students refused the government's proposed monitoring committee headed by a retired judge and say their agitation will continue until a CBI inquiry is granted.
Jharkhand Government
The government offered the retired-judge monitoring committee to oversee the investigation and assure students their concerns are heard during the process.
- Governor
- Santosh Kumar Gangwar
- Resigning JPSC Members
- Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda, Jamal Ahmed
- Probes Announced
- CID (criminal aspects), ED (financial irregularities)
- Fast-Track Court
- Charge sheets against the guilty to be filed within 90 days
- Expert Committee
- Representatives from IIT-ISM, IIM Ranchi and XLRI
- Exams Addressed
- 14th JPSC and 2023-25 backlog recruitments; post-2019 CGL exams not cancelled
- Arrests
- 19 accused persons arrested; digital evidence collected
- Unmet Demand
- CBI inquiry; students refused retired-judge monitoring committee
