The ongoing controversy over alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) has intensified, with the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) widening its probe and questioning senior officials linked to the commission. Three serving JPSC members — Dr Ajita Bhattacharya, Dr Anima Hansda and Dr Jamal Ahmad — were summoned for questioning as aspirants continued protests in Ranchi demanding accountability and a transparent recruitment process.
The investigation follows allegations surrounding the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination and other recruitment tests. The CID has already arrested 10 people in the case, including a former JPSC deputy examination controller and employees of an agency involved in conducting examinations. Meanwhile, former JPSC chairman L Khiyangte has resigned, saying his decision would allow investigators to conduct a free and fair probe.
CID Probe
The investigation has brought the functioning of Jharkhand’s premier recruitment body under intense scrutiny. The CID has been examining alleged irregularities in the conduct of multiple competitive examinations, with investigators carrying out searches at the JPSC headquarters and other locations in Ranchi. The agency has also arrested people allegedly connected to the examination process. Among those arrested are former deputy examination controller Shweta Gupta, TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL) director Ramveer Singh and several employees linked to the outsourcing agency.
On July 24, the CID arrested three more TDPL employees — Hemant Verma, Pradeep Kumar Singh and Sanjay Kumar — taking the number of arrests to eight at that stage. Two more people, including a JPSC employee, were arrested the following day, taking the total to 10. The CID has constituted a Special Investigation Team to investigate the allegations and has appealed to the public to share relevant information and documents.
The three serving JPSC members were summoned for questioning as investigators sought to establish the extent of responsibility within the commission. They have been members of the commission since September 2021. Their questioning does not, by itself, establish wrongdoing, and any allegations against them will have to be examined through due process. Former chairman L Khiyangte, who resigned amid the investigation, said he stepped down voluntarily to ensure that the probe could be conducted independently. His resignation came after investigators searched his official residence and the commission’s premises as part of the wider inquiry.
According to The Times of India, Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar accepted the resignations of all three JPSC members on August 9, following a recommendation from the state government.
Protests Grow
The controversy gained momentum after the JPSC announced the results of its 14th Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination in July. The examination is being conducted to fill 103 government posts, including positions such as deputy collectors and deputy superintendents of police.
The results triggered questions from aspirants and political parties over the transparency of the process. BJP leader Pratul Shahdeo alleged that the results were published without the cut-off marks and questioned the absence of signatures of commission members on the merit list. He demanded cancellation of the results and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.
The state government and ruling alliance, however, rejected allegations that the commission’s credibility had been compromised without evidence. Congress leader Pawan Kumar Singh accused the BJP of attempting to create confusion around a constitutional body and said that if it had concrete evidence, it should approach the appropriate constitutional or judicial forum.
The dispute has also affected the examination calendar. The JPSC postponed the Combined Civil Services Main Written Examination, which had been scheduled for July 25 to 27, citing “unavoidable reasons”. The repeated disruptions have added to the uncertainty faced by thousands of candidates who spend years preparing for government examinations. For many aspirants, delays and allegations of irregularities are not merely administrative issues but can mean lost opportunities, additional financial pressure and prolonged uncertainty about their careers.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Public service examinations must be built on trust. Young people who spend years preparing for competitive exams deserve a process that is transparent, consistent and beyond suspicion. When allegations of irregularities emerge, authorities must respond with facts, independent investigation and timely communication rather than allowing uncertainty to deepen.
At the same time, accountability should not become an excuse for rushing to judgment: those accused must be given due process, while anyone found responsible must face appropriate action. The CID investigation, therefore, should be allowed to proceed without political interference, and the authorities should clearly communicate what went wrong and how similar failures will be prevented. For aspirants whose careers are at stake, restoring confidence in the recruitment system should be the priority for everyone involved. What steps do you think Jharkhand should take to rebuild students’ trust in its examination system?
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News Alert! All 3 members of Jharkhand PSC quit amid CID summons for interrogation; Guv accepts resignation: official. pic.twitter.com/M09TkKct6D
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 9, 2026
