Jharkhand Student Movement: CM Hemant Soren Ready to Cancel 14th JPSC PT and Backlog Exams
Super Admin··6 min read
The ongoing Jharkhand Student Movement over alleged discrepancies in government job recruitment exams has now turned into a major statewide political confrontation. Students' anger over JPSC and JSSC exams escalated to such an extent that massive uproar was witnessed across the state, including the capital Ranchi, on Tuesday. Amid sharp clashes between the police and students on the streets, the state government now appears to be on the backfoot. Chief Minister Hemant Soren made a major statement inside the Assembly, announcing preparations to cancel the 14th JPSC Preliminary Exam and backlog exams.
This major development has not only stirred Jharkhand's politics but has also raised several new questions regarding the future of lakhs of aspirants in the state. Let us understand this entire controversy, the government's decision, and the students' demands in detail.
Growing Impact of the Student Movement and Effect of the Statewide Bandh
Students' anger against alleged irregularities and paper leaks in recruitment exams in Jharkhand had been simmering for the past several days. On Tuesday, a mixed response to the bandh (shutdown) called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was observed across the state.
- Protests on the streets: Students and protesters took to the streets in major cities like Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, and Dumka, causing road blockades (chakka jam).
- Shops and establishments closed: Protesters went around in several places to shut down shops and raised slogans against the government.
- Students' solidarity: Various student organizations and aspirants of the state actively participated in this movement, making it emerge as the largest student protest in recent years.
ABVP Workers Clash with Police, 110 Detained
During the monsoon session of the Assembly, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) workers had announced a siege of the Assembly (gherao). As student leaders and workers marched towards the Assembly, the police made tight security arrangements to stop them.
During this, heavy clashes were witnessed between the police and the protesters. The police used force to stop the march, after which the situation became even more tense. Taking action, the police detained around 110 ABVP workers. When the detained workers were being taken away in buses, other protesters tried to stop the buses, leading to sharp arguments and scuffles between the police and students right on the road.
Uproar in Assembly and CM Hemant Soren's Major Decision
The echoes of this chaos on the streets were heard inside the Jharkhand Assembly as well. The opposition created a massive uproar inside the House over the issues of exam rigging and the lathi-charge on students. Amid this heavy uproar and pressure from all sides, Chief Minister Hemant Soren clarified the government's stance in the House.
The Chief Minister announced that the government is fully prepared to cancel the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Preliminary Test (PT) and backlog exams. He assured that no tampering with the future of the youth would be tolerated and the government is committed to ensuring complete transparency in exams.
IIT and IIM to Help Reform the Examination System
To restore the credibility and trustworthiness of recruitment exams, Chief Minister Hemant Soren spoke about implementing another major structural reform. He said that help from the country's leading institutions would be taken to make the examination system foolproof and technologically secure.
Key Takeaway: According to the Chief Minister, help from experts of prestigious institutions like IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) and IIM (Indian Institute of Management) will be taken to make the examination system better and transparent. This expert committee will give its recommendations to make question paper security, OMR sheet management, and the entire exam conduction process modern and flawless.
Current Developments and Key Decisions
| Key Points | Current Status / Details |
|---|---|
| 14th JPSC PT Exam | The government is ready to cancel it. |
| JPSC Backlog Exams | Preparations are underway to cancel the backlog exams as well. |
| Technical Reforms | Advice will be taken from a committee of experts from IIT and IIM. |
| Role of Agency | An investigation will be conducted into TDPL, the agency responsible for conducting the exam. |
| Detention Action | Around 110 ABVP workers were detained during the protest. |
Opposition's Attack: Babulal Marandi Demands CBI Inquiry
Despite the government's readiness to cancel the exams, the opposition's anger has not subsided. Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Babulal Marandi, launched a sharp attack on the state government.
Marandi said that if the government had already announced a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) inquiry into the entire matter, this situation would not have arisen in the state. He alleged that instead of directly communicating with the affected students and aspirants, the Hemant Soren government resorted to police lathis (batons), which is highly condemnable. The opposition firmly believes that until the entire exam scam is investigated by a central agency like the CBI, the culprits will not be fully exposed.
Biggest Deadlock Remains Over JSSC-CGL Exam
Although the government has adopted a flexible stance regarding the JPSC exams, the deadlock over the JSSC-CGL (Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission - Combined Graduate Level) exam remains completely unresolved.
Six rounds of talks have taken place so far between the protesting students and government representatives. Despite this, no consensus has been reached between the two sides on the demand to cancel the JSSC-CGL exam and conduct a high-level CBI inquiry into it. Student representatives state that they will continue their protest against the rigging in this exam until the government accepts this demand as well.
Student Leader Devendra Nath Mahato's Hunger Strike and Health Minister's Visit
Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato, who has become the face of this entire Jharkhand Student Movement, has been on a hunger strike for the past several days. After his health deteriorated during the protest and police action, he was admitted to Sadar Hospital in Ranchi, where he is currently under doctors' observation.
On Tuesday, State Health Minister Irfan Ansari himself reached Sadar Hospital and met the fasting student leader Devendra Nath Mahato to inquire about his health. The Health Minister directed the doctors to ensure proper treatment. However, even from his hospital bed, the student leader made it clear that their struggle will continue until all their demands are met.
Conclusion and the Way Forward for Aspirants
This ongoing student movement in Jharkhand has become a major battle for the rights of the state's youth and transparency in the examination system. The cancellation of exams and talks of reforms with the help of institutions like IIT and IIM are partial victories for the students, but aspirants must remain vigilant and dedicated to their studies until final selection and transparent exam conduction are achieved.
If you too are preparing for Jharkhand's competitive exams (JPSC, JSSC CGL, etc.), keeping an eye on all these changes and new exam calendars is extremely important for you. For every authentic update related to exams, new exam strategies, and excellent study material, you can stay connected with Patamde Study. Patamde Study is always ready to provide you with the right guidance and accurate information at every stage of your preparation.
