JPSC Examination Irregularities Trigger Raid, Chairman EL Khiyange Quits

In a dramatic turn of events on July 21, law‑enforcement agencies carried out a raid on the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the testing agency TDPL after complaints of irregularities in the 14th combined civil services preliminary exam.

The CID, together with Ranchi police, combed through the commission’s office, scrutinising documents, computer logs, OMR sheets and various digital assets. Access to the premises was tightly controlled throughout the operation.

During the same night, EL Khiyange, who assumed the chairmanship of JPSC on 27 February 2025 following his tenure as chief secretary, tendered his resignation. No official comment has been issued by the state or the commission to explain the sudden move.

Investigators also entered TDPL’s headquarters, confiscating hard‑disk drives, pen drives, diaries and other records before imposing a seal on the site. Three staff members linked to the agency have been placed under custodial interrogation, and CID officials have questioned JPSC assistant examination controller Shweta Gupta along with other employees.

Since the preliminary results were made public, aspirants have repeatedly alleged procedural lapses and a lack of transparency. Student organizations are pressing for a comprehensive audit, release of OMR answer sheets and public disclosure of the cutoff marks. Opposition legislators have also raised the issue, demanding accountability.

The CID has stated that the examination of seized evidence is ongoing and that further steps will be decided after the forensic review concludes. The chairman’s resignation, coupled with the raid, adds a fresh political and administrative layer to the controversy.