Jharkhand Civil Service aspirants protest over age limit 2018 versus 2026 dispute
Jharkhand civil service aspirants are protesting the 2025 JPSC age cut-off, claiming it unfairly excludes eligible candidates. They have urged the government to revise the criteria to ensure fairness.
Civil service aspirants in Jharkhand have expressed strong opposition to the age criteria set in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) 2025 application, claiming it unfairly bars many eligible candidates from appearing in the examination. The protest comes amid growing frustration over what aspirants call irregularities in exam scheduling and inconsistent age cut-offs over the years.
Demonstrations have been staged outside the JPSC offices in Ranchi, with candidates demanding immediate action. In addition, aspirants have taken their grievances to the highest levels of the state administration, submitting letters to the Chief Minister and meeting the Governor, urging authorities to intervene and revise the age limits to ensure fairness.
Civil service aspirants in Jharkhand are protesting against the age criteria in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) 2025 application, claiming it unfairly excludes eligible candidates. Demonstrations have been held outside JPSC offices, while aspirants have also written to the Chief Minister and met the Governor seeking intervention.
WHAT'S THE CONTROVERSY
The dispute centres on the age calculation for the Jharkhand Civil Services Competitive Exam–2025 (Advertisement No. 01/2026).
JPSC has set both a minimum and maximum age as of 01/08/2026, whereas candidates argue that the maximum age should be calculated from 01/08/2018.
As a result, candidates who would have been eligible under previous norms are now excluded from appearing, leaving many aspirants frustrated.
IRREGULAR EXAM SCHEDULING A KEY FACTOR
Since Jharkhand’s formation, only 8 combined civil service exams have been conducted—far below the expected 25 exams in 25 years.
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Past reference dates for age:
2017 exam: Maximum age 01/08/2013
2023 exam: Maximum age 01/08/2017, minimum 10/08/2024
Current 2025 exam: Maximum and minimum ages set at 01/08/2026, breaking the chronological order.
Aspirants claim that due to this irregular scheduling, candidates who were 26 years old in 2017 are now ineligible, despite missing exams through no fault of their own.
COMPARISON WITH OTHER STATES
In states like Bihar, civil service exams are conducted annually. If an exam is missed in a year, two exams are held the next year to ensure candidates are not deprived of their chance. Jharkhand aspirants demand a similar approach.
With protests ongoing and appeals submitted to the state’s top officials, candidates are hoping for urgent intervention to correct the age cut-off and ensure fairness in JPSC exams.
(With inputs from Satyajit)
Civil service aspirants in Jharkhand have expressed strong opposition to the age criteria set in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) 2025 application, claiming it unfairly bars many eligible candidates from appearing in the examination. The protest comes amid growing frustration over what aspirants call irregularities in exam scheduling and inconsistent age cut-offs over the years.
Demonstrations have been staged outside the JPSC offices in Ranchi, with candidates demanding immediate action. In addition, aspirants have taken their grievances to the highest levels of the state administration, submitting letters to the Chief Minister and meeting the Governor, urging authorities to intervene and revise the age limits to ensure fairness.
Civil service aspirants in Jharkhand are protesting against the age criteria in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) 2025 application, claiming it unfairly excludes eligible candidates. Demonstrations have been held outside JPSC offices, while aspirants have also written to the Chief Minister and met the Governor seeking intervention.
WHAT'S THE CONTROVERSY
The dispute centres on the age calculation for the Jharkhand Civil Services Competitive Exam–2025 (Advertisement No. 01/2026).
JPSC has set both a minimum and maximum age as of 01/08/2026, whereas candidates argue that the maximum age should be calculated from 01/08/2018.
As a result, candidates who would have been eligible under previous norms are now excluded from appearing, leaving many aspirants frustrated.
IRREGULAR EXAM SCHEDULING A KEY FACTOR
Since Jharkhand’s formation, only 8 combined civil service exams have been conducted—far below the expected 25 exams in 25 years.
Past reference dates for age:
2017 exam: Maximum age 01/08/2013
2023 exam: Maximum age 01/08/2017, minimum 10/08/2024
Current 2025 exam: Maximum and minimum ages set at 01/08/2026, breaking the chronological order.
Aspirants claim that due to this irregular scheduling, candidates who were 26 years old in 2017 are now ineligible, despite missing exams through no fault of their own.
COMPARISON WITH OTHER STATES
In states like Bihar, civil service exams are conducted annually. If an exam is missed in a year, two exams are held the next year to ensure candidates are not deprived of their chance. Jharkhand aspirants demand a similar approach.
With protests ongoing and appeals submitted to the state’s top officials, candidates are hoping for urgent intervention to correct the age cut-off and ensure fairness in JPSC exams.
(With inputs from Satyajit)