Jharkhand cancels JSSC-CGL exam after 24-day student protest

The Jharkhand government has cancelled the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination and all recruitment conducted through TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced on Monday. The Crime Investigation Department (CID) will investigate all TDPL examinations since 2014, while a retired judge-led panel will examine irregularities. The government has also created a grievance portal and appointed Amitabh Kaushal to lead examination reforms.

Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato ended his indefinite hunger strike after the announcement, thanking the government and Chief Minister Soren for accepting student demands. He said a law should be enacted to ensure no student is cheated. Mahato added that students would continue supporting the investigation and reform efforts but stressed the need for a system that guarantees prevention of future paper leaks. India Today reports that protesters had sought a CBI probe, while the government has ordered a CID investigation.