Jharkhand Governor Orders Probe Into Alleged Irregularities in JPSC Civil Services Exams

Ranchi: Taking cognizance of serious allegations of irregularities in the 11th, 12th, and 13th civil services examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar has ordered an official inquiry into the matter.

Sources from Raj Bhavan confirmed that the Governor’s Under Secretary has issued a formal letter to the JPSC Chairman, directing a comprehensive investigation and necessary action as per the rules. The development follows mounting complaints from aspirants and civil society groups questioning the integrity and transparency of the examination process.

Former Chief Minister Raghubar Das, during a recent meeting with the Governor, also demanded a high-level inquiry, citing widespread dissatisfaction and allegations of procedural violations. Multiple delegations have submitted memoranda on behalf of candidates, pointing out discrepancies in the evaluation process and selection methodology.

The complaints allege that digital evaluation of answer sheets was conducted in violation of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which mandates that answer sheets be made available for review by candidates. “Such transparency is impossible in purely digital evaluation,” one petitioner stated.

Another serious charge concerns the involvement of a third-party agency in the exam process without a formal tender procedure, raising concerns over breach of confidentiality and procedural lapses. Alleged errors in published results and the reopening of the application portal just one week before the examination have further fueled suspicion.

Adding to the controversy, candidates claim that unqualified and contractual teachers were involved in the evaluation of answer sheets. According to the JPSC’s own guidelines, evaluators should be university-level teachers with at least 10 years of experience or instructors with a minimum of 5 years teaching postgraduate students. The use of under-qualified evaluators would be a serious violation of protocol.

Perhaps most troubling are allegations of monetary demands for higher marks. Multiple candidates reported receiving phone calls during August and September 2024, in which callers claimed they could “increase scores” in exchange for money — a claim that, if verified, could point to deeper corruption in the system.