Protesting students in Ranchi have formed an 11-member delegation to enter formal negotiations with the Jharkhand government following allegations of widespread irregularities in the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Preliminary Exam.
Demonstrating under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, the students have been staging a protest at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium for 13 days. Student leader Devendra Mahato has also been on a hunger strike for five days.
Core Demands & Delegation Setup
The protesting students have handed over the delegation list to Ranchi Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Kumar Rajat and are awaiting details on the time and venue for the talks.
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Delegation Composition: The 11-member panel includes 8 students, 1 lawyer, and 2 technical experts.
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Condition for Negotiations: Protesters have refused closed-door talks, insisting that discussions with state ministers and officials take place on camera in the presence of media personnel.
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Key Demands:
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Immediate cancellation of the 14th JPSC Preliminary Exam.
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A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the examination process.
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A comprehensive structural reform of Jharkhand’s public exam systems.
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Investigation Progress & Political Friction
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Vendor Misconduct & Arrests: The exam was conducted by a third-party vendor, TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL). A Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the CID have arrested 19 people so far. Recent arrests include Rakshak Singh, a TDPL accountant picked up from Lucknow, who participated in conducting the exam while simultaneously clearing it as a candidate.
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State Government Stance: Chief Minister Hemant Soren acknowledged paper leaks as a systemic challenge, advocating for dialogue to break the stalemate. Government representatives expressed optimism that the talks would yield positive outcomes.
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Opposition Criticism: Opposition leaders from the BJP dismissed state-level inquiries, insisting that students lack faith in CID-led investigations and reiterating the demand for an independent CBI probe.
