JPSC defers Civil Services Mains, suspends entire 2026 exam schedule amid CID probe

Ranchi: The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) has postponed the 14th Combined Civil Services Main Examination-2025 until further orders, a statement said on Wednesday.

The Commission has also decided to defer all examinations scheduled in the near future under its Examination Calendar-2026.

The decision came at a time when the CID is investigating alleged irregularities in the results of the 14th Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination (PT).

In an order issued on Wednesday evening, the JPSC Controller of Examinations stated that the Combined Civil Services Main Examination-2025, to be conducted under Advertisement No. 01/2026, has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances.

The Commission further announced that all remaining examinations proposed under the Examination Calendar-2026, released on July 9, would also remain suspended until further orders.

It added that detailed information regarding the decision is available on its official website.

Notably, amid the ongoing controversy over the results of the Civil Services Preliminary Examination, a joint team of the CID and Ranchi Police on Tuesday conducted raids at eight locations, including the JPSC headquarters and the office of TSDPL (TSR Data Processing Private Limited), the agency engaged to conduct the examination.

Following the operation, eight individuals were detained and are being questioned.

During the raids, investigators seized computers, CPUs, laptops, hard disks, pen drives, server data, OMR scanning records, documents relating to merit lists, confidential files, diaries, and mobile phones.

The CID is examining allegations of digital tampering, manipulation of OMR data, and irregularities in data transfer. The seized electronic devices are being sent for forensic examination.

A key aspect of the investigation is the selection of TSDPL as the examination agency. The company had reportedly been blacklisted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) in May 2025 over allegations of irregularities and breaches of confidentiality.

Despite this, questions are now being raised over how the agency was entrusted with conducting the 14th JPSC examination.

After the declaration of the preliminary examination results, candidates alleged several irregularities, including the publication of results without releasing cut-off marks, the absence of signatures on the merit list, non-availability of OMR sheets, and a lack of transparency in the examination process.

Following these complaints, workers of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and BJP laid siege to the headquarters of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) in Ranchi earlier on Wednesday, demanding the cancellation of the Preliminary Examination.

The protest led to a confrontation between demonstrators and police, with activists attempting to breach barricades and march towards the Commission’s office.

State BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Aditya Sahu and BJYM state president Shashank Raj led the protest.

IANS