# Jharkhand Govt Yields to 24-Day Student Agitation as Hemant Soren Cancels JSSC CGL Exam > Following 24 days of intense student protests against recruitment exam irregularities, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has cancelled the JSSC CGL examination. However, a section of student leaders continues to demand a CBI investigation. **Type:** article · **Category:** India · **Published:** 2026-08-18 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/national/jharkhand-men-24-dina-chale-chhatra-andolana-ke-samane-jhuki-hemant-soren-sarakara-jssc-pariksha-radda-17896 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Jharkhand News, Hemant Soren, JSSC Exam Cancelled, Student Protest, Paper Leak The persistent outrage among job aspirants over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in Jharkhand competitive examinations has ultimately forced the state administration to capitulate. Following an intense 24-day agitation, the government led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the complete cancellation of the disputed Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (JSSC CGL) examination. In addition, all hiring processes and contractual frameworks linked to the private agency responsible for conducting the examination have been scrapped. While the decision has provided temporary relief to the state government, a faction of protesting candidates continues to demand a comprehensive investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). ## Origins of the Protest and the Sit-In at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium Discontent among competitive examination candidates had been simmering nationwide over repeated allegations of recruitment paper leaks. Earlier, months of protests by students at Jantar Mantar in Delhi regarding the NEET-UG paper leak prompted the central government to enact stricter anti-paper leak legislation. Shortly after the agitation in the national capital subsided, unrest erupted in Jharkhand. Aspirants raised serious allegations of corruption, fraud, and paper leaks in examinations administered by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) for civil services prelims as well as those conducted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). This widespread anger quickly transformed into an organized state-wide protest. Between July 25 and July 29, hundreds of candidates launched an indefinite sit-in demonstration at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi. The protesting students asserted that they would not vacate the venue until the tainted exams were nullified and a transparent, accountable testing process was guaranteed. ## Indefinite Hunger Strikes and CID Inquiry Initiation The intensity of the agitation escalated significantly between August 2 and August 6, as several prominent student leaders initiated indefinite hunger strikes to press for their demands. Responding to the mounting political and public pressure, the state government tasked the Crime Investigation Department (CID) with launching an inquiry into the matter. CID officials subsequently began interrogating officials and key individuals associated with the examination conduct. Simultaneously, the Jharkhand government constituted a formal dialogue committee to engage in negotiations with student representatives. However, the protesters maintained a firm stance, repeatedly emphasizing that only a full cancellation of the exam alongside an independent CBI investigation would satisfy their concerns. ## Assembly March, Police Lathi Charge, and Political Turn The crisis reached its peak on August 10, when thousands of students organized a protest march toward the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha). Police forces set up heavy barricades to block the demonstration. As protesters attempted to push past the barriers, security personnel deployed water cannons, tear gas shells, and baton charges to disperse the crowds, resulting in injuries to numerous students. During the confrontation, the medical condition of fasting student leader Devendra Nath Mahto deteriorated rapidly, necessitating his emergency hospitalization. Prior to this, another hunger striker, Rahul Kranti, had also been rushed to the hospital after his health collapsed. The violent crackdown sparked intense political backlash. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemned the police action and enforced a statewide shutdown (bandh) on August 11, further amplifying the pressure on the state administration. ## Formal Negotiations and the Government Decision Between August 15 and August 17, amidst worsening health conditions of hospitalized student leaders and mounting political strain, the state administration invited delegation leaders for formal high-level negotiations. Following deliberations, Chief Minister Hemant Soren publicly announced on August 17 that the disputed JSSC CGL examination was officially cancelled. The Chief Minister also confirmed that all recruitment operations and contracts associated with TDPL, the private outsourcing agency contracted to hold the examination, were completely revoked. Serious corruption allegations had emerged regarding TDPL and its past association with Abhay Tiwari, a former affiliate who currently serves as a government officer in Jharkhand. The state administration confirmed that administrative action had been initiated against him. ## Hunger Strikes Call Off but Demand for CBI Inquiry Persists Following the government announcement, Devendra Nath Mahto, leader of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM), alongside other fasting student representatives, formally ended their hunger strikes. Mahto stated that since the government conceded to their primary demand by cancelling the flawed exam, JLKM decided to temporarily suspend its protest campaign. Similarly, fasting leaders Habiba and Rahul Kranti, representing the 'Reforms Manch' coalition, were also persuaded to break their fasts. However, representatives from Reforms Manch clarified that they have not agreed to a total call-off of the movement. They emphasized that a CBI probe remains essential to expose the full extent of the scandal, while the state government continues its ongoing CID investigation. ## What this means for you - **Across India:** Demands for strict anti-paper leak laws and competitive exam transparency are likely to gain further momentum in other states. - **In Jharkhand:** Hundreds of thousands of candidates affected by the cancelled JSSC CGL exam must now await official announcements on revised schedules and process reforms. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. Which exam was cancelled by the Jharkhand government? Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the total cancellation of the disputed JSSC CGL recruitment exam and processes linked to agency TDPL on August 17. ### 2. How long did the student protest last? The student movement lasted for 24 days, having started on July 25 with an indefinite sit-in at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi. ### 3. What were the primary demands of the protesting candidates? Candidates demanded the cancellation of the rigged examinations, transparent selection norms, and an independent investigation by the CBI. ### 4. Has the protest been completely called off? While major student leaders like Devendra Nath Mahto ended their hunger strike, groups like Reforms Manch maintain that they still demand a CBI probe. ## Inspiration & Lessons - **Power of Persistent Agitation:** Sustained, democratic advocacy over 24 days compelled the state leadership to address students' legitimate grievances. - **Strength in Unity:** When job seekers and students organize around common goals, they can effectively demand institutional accountability. - **Resilience Under Pressure:** Despite police action and health risks, student representatives remained committed to their demand for fairness. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._