The students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment exams on Jattvibeday remained adamant on their demand for a CBI probe despite Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar promising justice to them.A fresh round of talks between the government and students failed to achieve any breakthrough despite the authorities claiming that they accepted 98 per cent of their demands, barring one for a CBI probe into the JSSC-CGL exam’s alleged irregularities.”Most of our demands have been met, including the demand for cancellation of 14th JPSC exam. But we will not compromise till our demand for a CBI probe is fulfilled. We will continue our proposed march to the Jharkhand assembly on August 10,” student leader Ravindra Paswan said after the sixth round of talks with a government panel.Technical and Higher Education Minister and panel member Sudivya Kumar said the government has accepted 98 per cent of the demands, but it is not in a position to accept one for the CBI probe into JSSC-CGL exam, as it was conducted under the monitoring of the High Court and Supreme Court.”We held positive dialogue with students; the Jharkhand government will recommend an ED probe into financial irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission exam. Now they will take a final call whether to withdraw the agitation or not,” Kumar said.He also announced setting up a fast-track court that will file charge sheet within 90 days in exam irregularities cases.”A panel will also be formed with experts drawn from IIT-ISM Dhanbad, IIM Ranchi and XLRI Jamshedpur to suggest examination reforms,” he said, adding that the government has also consented to set up a panel under a retired HC judge for JSSC-CGL examination probe.Earlier, Chief Minister Hemant Soren pledged to deliver justice with transparency to youths protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment exams while asserting that dialogue, not batons, can solve all problems at home.Alleging that vested interests were working at full force to disrupt democracy in the state, he said the students’ stir should not be politicised and warned those harbouring political ambitions against misguiding youths.Soren said the youths’ concern was also his concern, and those involved in exam irregularities will face strict action.”Unable to accept the state’s self-reliance, vested interests are working at full force in Jharkhand to disrupt democracy here. Samvad and not ‘lathi-danda-bandook’ (dialogue, not batons), can solve all problems,” he said.”Weapons are meant for enemies at the border. I promise the exam protesters that justice will be delivered with full transparency,” the chief minister said, addressing Jharkhand Adivasi Mahotsav here.Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar also urged the students to solve the matter through “dialogue” and not agitation, while saying that the government’s doors were always open for them.The sixth round of talks was held at the state guest house in Ranchi as the protest entered its 16th day with six demonstrators on indefinite hunger strike.A five-member delegation from the Left-backed students’ union AISA also took part in the talks.Key demands of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, a prominent students’ body spearheading the protest, include cancelling the 14th JPSC, a CBI probe into all examinations, making the probe report public and action against the guilty.The students are also demanding the revocation of the suspension of a finance department section officer and whistleblower, Santosh Kumar Mastana, and withdrawal of cases filed against him.Jharkhand CID had arrested Mastana in October 2025 for allegedly spreading a “fake narrative” about a paper leak in the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination held in September 2024. He was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court this year.The decision to hold another round of talks was taken after a series of meetings between the government and student groups on Friday night and throughout Saturday failed to break the deadlock.The Hemant Soren government on Friday night held discussions with the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch that has been spearheading the agitation.On Saturday, the government panel, comprising ministers Dipika Pandey Singh, Sudivya Kumar, Chamra Linda and Sanjay Prasad Yadav, held separate meetings with student bodies including the Congress-backed NSUI, JCM and Adivasi Chhatra Sangh ACS, and sought their charters of demands.