Ranchi, September 30 (Daily Kiran) : Students in Jharkhand have issued an ultimatum to the state government, demanding reforms in the examination processes of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They have set a deadline of October 7 for the government to address their concerns. If their demands remain unmet, they plan to organize a large-scale protest called ‘Student Mahajutan’ across the state.
At a press conference held in Ranchi, student representatives Harshit Singh and candidate Nishat Parveen from Khunti expressed their frustration over the lack of action. They noted that a committee for examination reforms was promised under the leadership of senior IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal, but two months have passed without its formation. The representatives also called for the swift appointment of a chairperson and board members to the JPSC, citing the uncertainty caused by these vacancies on examinations and recruitment processes.
The students are advocating for the issuance of an annual examination calendar, similar to that of the UPSC, and strict adherence to it. They highlighted the numerous controversies surrounding various exams in recent years, which have led to the cancellation of over 22 tests due to allegations of irregularities and corruption. The absence of regular recruitment processes has also been a significant concern.
The last advertisement for the recruitment of sub-inspectors was released in 2017, with appointments made in 2018, but there have been no new recruitments since. Similarly, the advertisement for the LDC recruitment was withdrawn after applications were received in 2020.
To improve the examination process, students have proposed several suggestions, including the implementation of e-options and negative marking in preliminary exams, a category-wise cutoff, and a minimum of 90 days for preparation for the main exam after preliminary results are announced. They also demand the inclusion of short answer-based questions in the main exam and prioritization of topics related to Jharkhand.
Furthermore, they are calling for a scaling pattern for evaluating regional languages and ensuring the confidentiality of answer sheet evaluations. Students who reach the interview stage but do not make it to the final merit list should be given priority in other government job opportunities, they argue, and they expect the government to advocate effectively in court for student-related matters.
If the reform committee is not established and the appointments to the JPSC are not made by October 7, the students vow to mobilize across the state for their protest.
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