Looking into JPSC cut-off age issue, Jharkhand govt tells assembly

Ranchi: The demand to amend the age limit criteria for the 2026 JPSC Civil Services Examination dominated proceedings both inside and outside the House as the Jharkhand Assembly convened for the second day of its ongoing Budget Session.

Silli MLA Amit Kumar and Poriyahat MLA Pradeep Kumar raised the issue during Zero Hour, seeking the govt’s intervention to address the concerns of civil services aspirants.


For the upcoming examination, the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) has fixed the age cut-off year as 2026. However, students have been demanding that the cut-off be revised to 2018. “A large number of aspirants will be deprived of appearing in the examination due to this decision,” said Amit Kumar.

Responding to the concerns, parliamentary affairs minister Radha Krishana Kishore assured the House that chief minister Hemant Soren and the govt are serious about the matter and that an appropriate decision would be taken soon.

When the House assembled at 11 am, MLA Saryu Roy raised the issue of acute manpower shortage in state agriculture board-run Bazar Samitis during Question Hour. “Out of 900 sanctioned posts, the govt has admitted that only 105 personnel are currently working,” Roy said, seeking clarification on whether the government intends to phase out the Bazar Samitis.

In response, agriculture minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey said that the govt is in the process of framing detailed rules and regulations for the Bazar Samitis.

JMM MLA Hemlal Murmu also highlighted manpower shortages and problems with the biometric system in remote areas, citing poor internet connectivity as a hurdle in smooth PDS distribution.

Replying to this, minister Irfan Ansari said that 255 out of 260 vacant posts of block supply officers have been filled on a priority basis. “Additionally, e-PoS machines are being upgraded to 4G to resolve network-related issues,” he said.

The second half of the session witnessed a debate on the Governor’s address, with members from both the treasury and opposition benches participating. Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi accused the government of misleading the public with exaggerated claims of achievement. “Incidents of land grabbing, displacement of tribals, and concerns over law and order continue to trouble the state,” Marandi said.

He also alleged irregularities in the appointment of the Director General of Police (DGP). Chief Minister Hemant Soren intervened, stating that since the matter is sub judice before the Supreme Court, it should not be discussed in the House.

The CM is scheduled to reply to the debate on the Governor’s address on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Assembly unanimously passed a proposal to convene the House on February 21 instead of February 23 in view of the upcoming civic body elections.