Jharkhand students protest recruitment exam irregularities FAST-MOVING

Jharkhand recruitment protest JPSC exam irregularities JSSC-CGL exam cancellation CBI investigation demand Ranchi student agitation

Thousands of job aspirants in Jharkhand have intensified their protests in Ranchi against alleged irregularities, paper leaks, and corruption in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examinations. On August 10, protesters conducted a 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' march toward the state legislature. The demonstration saw clashes with police, who deployed water cannons and conducted baton charges to disperse the crowds after barricades were breached.

The agitation has entered its 17th day, with student leader Devendra Nath Mahto on a ninth-day indefinite hunger strike. Protesters are specifically demanding the cancellation of the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exam and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the recruitment process. While the state government claims to have met 98 percent of student demands—including the cancellation of certain exams—it has rejected the demand for a CBI investigation, citing that the CGL exam was conducted under judicial supervision. Instead, the government proposed an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into financial irregularities and the formation of a committee led by a retired judge.

Adding to the developments, the Enforcement Directorate has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to investigate alleged illegal financial transactions within the examination process. Furthermore, a shake-up occurred within the JPSC as three members—Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda, and Jamal Ahmad—resigned following summons from the Jharkhand CID.

Entities

Babulal Marandi · Devendra Nath Mahto · Enforcement Directorate · Hemant Soren · Jharkhand Public Service Commission · Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission · Ranchi

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 24 SOURCES] Students are demanding the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL exam and a CBI investigation into the entire process. (Students)
[● 3 SOURCES] The Enforcement Directorate has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) regarding irregularities in JPSC examinations. (Enforcement Directorate)
[● 3 SOURCES] Students have rejected the state government's proposals regarding investigation alternatives. (Students)
[● 2 SOURCES] The investigation will focus on illegal financial transactions and corruption related to the examination process. (Enforcement Directorate)
[● 4 SOURCES] The state government maintains it lacks the authority to cancel the CGL exam or order a CBI investigation because the exam was conducted under the supervision of the High Court and Supreme Court. (State Government)
[● 3 SOURCES] The government proposed an ED investigation into financial irregularities, a committee led by a retired judge, and a fast-track court to deliver a report within 90 days. (State Government)
[● 13 SOURCES] Protesters are demanding the cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examination. (Students)
[● 2 SOURCES] The Jharkhand government has rejected the demand for a CBI probe. (Jharkhand government)
[● 4 SOURCES] Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita have been imposed within a 750-meter radius of the state Assembly. (Police)
[● 14 SOURCES] Protesters are demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into recruitment irregularities. (Students)
[DISPUTED] Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto has been on an indefinite hunger strike for nine days. (Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto)
[● 4 SOURCES] Three JPSC members—Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda, and Jamal Ahmad—resigned on Sunday. (JPSC members)