Jharkhand protests: Devendra Nath Mahto ends hunger strike after 16 days Student activist Devendra Nath Mahto, who had been on a 16-day hunger strike, ended his fast in Ranchi after the Jharkhand government agreed to cancel a controversial recruitment exam. The decision came after prolonged protests led by job-seekers and students who accused the state of irregularities in government exams. Mahto, who was hospitalized due to deteriorating health, concluded his fast in the presence of state ministers. However, protesters emphasized that their demonstrations would continue until India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launches an inquiry into alleged malpractices in other recruitment exams. The protests began on 25 July following allegations that candidates in the preliminary civil service exam had answered fewer questions than expected, raising suspicions of exam manipulation. This followed a larger nationwide outcry in Delhi, which led to the resignation of the federal education minister. The Jharkhand government, under Chief Minister Hemant Soren, faced mounting pressure to address the crisis. After weeks of protests, the state government canceled the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) exam and announced an investigation by the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The CID has already arrested several individuals, including the head of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission. Despite these steps, protesters demanded the CBI to probe other recruitment exams, citing broader concerns about systemic corruption. Soren announced on Monday that the JSSC-CGL exam would be scrapped, citing “shocking facts” emerging from the CID investigation.#central_bureau_of_investigation #hemant_soren #jharkhand_government #devendra_nath_mahto #jharkhand_staff_selection_commission
JSSC-CGL, Jharkhand Protests: 'You Can End Marriage,' Jharkhand Candidate Tells Wife Amid Job Loss Fears The Jharkhand government’s decision to cancel the JSSC-CGL (Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level) exam 2024 and other state government exams has ignited a wave of protests among nearly 2,000 candidates who had already secured government jobs through the process. The move, announced by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday, followed months of student-led demonstrations demanding the cancellation of exams conducted by TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL) due to allegations of irregularities. While students celebrated the cancellation, the affected candidates now face uncertainty about their employment, sparking anger and despair. The cancellation of the exams has left candidates like Raghuvendra, a teacher from Gaya who resigned from his post to join the government after clearing the CGL exam, in a precarious situation. “I had no choice but to resign from my teaching job when the Supreme Court ruled against canceling the recruitment in January 2026,” he said, standing outside the Jharkhand Secretariat in Ranchi. “Now, the government has taken my job away, and I’m left with nothing.” Raghuvendra, who had crossed the age limit for new recruitment exams, expressed frustration over the lack of alternatives. Similarly, Sandeep Yadav, employed in the Vigilance Department of Jharkhand, was denied entry to his workplace in Project Bhawan after the cancellation. “I joined last year after clearing the exam, and I didn’t get this job through anyone’s charity,” he said. His recent marriage has added to his anxiety, as he fears job loss could destabilize his family. “I told my wife, ‘You married me because I had a job. Now, I don’t have one.#supreme_court #hemant_soren #jharkhand_government #tsr_data_processing_pvt_ltd #jssc_cgl
Hemant Soren Announces JSSC-CGL Exam Cancellation Amid Student Protests The Jharkhand government, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, announced the cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination on August 17, 2026, following prolonged student protests demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in the recruitment process. The decision came after an emergency Cabinet meeting that lasted four hours, during which Soren also ordered the cancellation of all exams conducted by TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL). Students, who have been staging a hunger strike for 24 days, hailed the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL exam as a positive step but emphasized that their protest would continue until the CBI inquiry is completed. A student stated, “Our demand for a CBI investigation remains unfulfilled. Our hunger strike will not end until the CBI inquiry takes place. It is a matter of great happiness that the JSSC-CGL exam has been cancelled. We will call off the agitation only after the CBI inquiry is conducted, not before.” Soren outlined the government’s response to the crisis, including the formation of a committee under senior IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal to implement reforms in the examination process. The committee will conduct a comprehensive inquiry into all errors, both minor and major, that have occurred since 2014. Additionally, the government plans to convene discussions on amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act) introduced by the Central Government, with the possibility of holding a special session if necessary.#central_bureau_of_investigation #hemant_soren #jharkhand_public_service_commission #jharkhand_government #tsr_data_processing_private_limited
