Negotiations between the Jharkhand administration and JPSC-JSSC candidates broke down on Sunday, as student representatives stated they would continue their protest until a CBI investigation is ordered. The groups have announced a large demonstration toward the state assembly on August 10. Despite several meetings and government concessions, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC exam along with probes into reported irregularities and changes to the hiring process, the students remained unsatisfied. Their main requests, such as a CBI inquiry and action on alleged issues in the CGL and other JSSC exams, were not met. Student leaders said they would not accept any settlement short of the CBI probe. Another point of contention was the demand to cancel the CGL exam. Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu explained that the government could not cancel it unilaterally because the exam was held under high court and supreme court orders and is still under judicial review. Results have been announced and selected candidates have already started work. The administration proposed forming a monitoring panel led by a retired judge to supervise the inquiry into irregularities. Students rejected this idea. They argued that anything less than a CBI investigation and refusal to cancel the CGL exam failed to resolve the main issues. The government maintained it had addressed most concerns after three days of discussions. It decided on separate probes for the 14th JPSC exam and backlog recruitments from 2023-25, with CID handling criminal matters and the Enforcement Directorate examining possible financial misconduct. Plans also include a fast-track court and filing charges within 90 days. A committee with experts from IIT-ISM, IIM Ranchi and XLRI would handle long-term recruitment changes. Officials claimed 98 percent of demands raised in talks had been accepted, with the CGL cancellation remaining the main unresolved point. Students have continued the protest, stating the lack of a CBI probe prevents any agreement.
