ED probes Jharkhand PSC exam irregularities; three members quit

The ED's involvement signals a widening of the investigation beyond the state's CID. The agency's focus under PMLA means it will likely trace the money trail behind the alleged irregularities, looking at whether proceeds of crime were generated and laundered.

For the protesting students, the ED probe may not be enough. Their demand remains a CBI investigation, which they see as more independent from state influence. The government's acceptance of most demands has not ended the agitation, and Monday's march to the Assembly will test whether the state can resolve the standoff.

The resignations of the three JPSC members remove key figures from the commission but leave it without a full leadership team. How quickly the state reconstitutes the body will affect the timeline for future recruitment exams and the credibility of the commission itself.

The ED probe and the JPSC resignations are separate developments but feed into the same narrative of institutional failure. Whether the students accept the ED as a substitute for the CBI remains an open question, and one that will likely determine how long the protests continue.