Miffed with no response from Soren’s government, students firm on August 20 gherao of CM’s residence

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Demonstrators stage a protest outside Jharkhand secretariat after the cabinet decided to cancel the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level examination in Ranchi on August 17, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday (August 17, 2026) announced the cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination , following an emergency Cabinet meeting that lasted for four hours. He also announced that all examinations conducted by TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL) agency, a blacklisted firm, will be cancelled. He added that a committee will be formed under senior IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal to suggest examination reforms.

Also read | After Jharkhand protesters burn Soren, Rahul effigies, State Government calls for fourth round of talks

Earlier, a scheduled meeting between the protesting students and the Jharkhand government did not take place. The meeting was scheduled at 2 p.m. at the State Guest House in Ranchi. However, before the meeting could begin, Mr. Soren called an emergency meeting of Cabinet Ministers at the Secretariat. On Sunday (August 16), the government had extended the invitation to the students to hold talks.

Led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, the protesters have been demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged irregularities in recruitment exams and the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination.

Miffed with not getting a response from the government side on the 24th day of the protest, the Manch had announced that it would gherao the residence of the Chief Minister on August 20.

“We have given the ultimatum till August 18 to fulfil our demands; otherwise lakhs of students will proceed to Hemant Soren’s residence on August 20 to make history in Ranchi. The siege of the Chief Minister’s residence will be historic. Fulfil our demands, and we will go home and study,” Manch leader Ravindra Paswan told The Hindu over the phone.

The Manch also posted a message on its social media account on X, stating, “Today marks 24 days of the movement. What exactly is the government thinking? What is the problem for the government in accepting demands like cancelling the exams where irregularities occurred and conducting a CBI investigation? Once again, the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch, reiterating its announcement, wants to tell the government that if our demands are not met by August 18, then on August 20, more than 1 lakh affected students will surround and sit at the residence of the Chief Minister and will not leave until their demands are accepted.”

On the other hand, the Jharkhand State Crime Investigation Department (CID), probing the case of alleged irregularities in the examination, conducted raids at the office of the JSSC. Sources said that the CID also questioned JSSC Secretary Sudhir Gupta. A separate team of the CID also conducted a raid at Mr. Gupta’s residence in Ranchi.

The CID on Monday (August 17) also arrested B.N.