Following the Cabinet’s decision, student leader Devendra Nath Mahto suspended his 16-day fast at Ranchi’s Sadar Hospital. Mahto, who was joined in the hunger strike by fellow youth activists Umme Habiba and Rahul Kranti, broke his fast by drinking juice offered by state Cabinet Ministers Dipika Pandey Singh and Irfan Ansari.
Key Decisions Taken by the Cabinet
Following a special Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the state administration introduced several immediate steps and structural measures:- Blanket Cancellation of Contested Exams: The JSSC-CGL examination, all recruitment examinations outsourced to TDPL, their published results, and any candidate selections processed through the agency have been annulled.
- Scrapping of Additional Examinations: Minister Dipika Pandey Singh confirmed that the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination along with backlog tests are also slated for cancellation.
- Enforcement Directorate and Judicial-Monitored CID Probes: The state is approaching the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to track potential financial misappropriation, while the ongoing Crime Investigation Department (CID) investigation into paper leaks and exam malpractice will proceed under judicial oversight.
- Public Consultation Portal: The administration has launched an open feedback portal allowing aspirants, educators, and guardians to directly recommend recruitment framework reforms.
- Standardized Calendar and Safeguards: The government pledged a time-bound annual examination schedule, secure technological testing environments, rapid release of answer keys and OMR sheets, and multi-tier accountability protocols.
“A Significant Step, but the Struggle Continues”
Speaking from Sadar Hospital, Mahto hailed the decision as a momentous outcome for the state's student community while stressing that structural overhauls must follow."Canceling an examination where the recruitment had reached the appointment and joining stages was a challenging and bold step. Today is a significant victory for Jharkhand's youth, but while the hunger strike is suspended, our fight for permanent reform continues," Mahto stated.
Student activist Umme Habiba underscored additional grievances, urging the administration to immediately drop all First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against participating students during the agitation and reinstate suspended officer Santosh Mastana. Meanwhile, representatives from the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch noted that they will continue pushing for an independent, comprehensive Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into paper leak networks.
Background of the Agitation
The widespread protests began on July 2, rapidly gaining traction among thousands of competitive exam aspirants across Jharkhand. Tensions escalated earlier this month when students organized massive marches toward the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly in Ranchi, leading to confrontations with security forces.The movement received broad political and social attention, including a letter of solidarity from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urging the government to resolve the candidates' grievances through direct dialogue, as well as public support from climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.
