RANCHI, Aug. 10 -- Fresh talks between the Jharkhand government and protesting students on Sunday failed to resolve the 16-day standoff as the government accepted almost all demands of student delegations except the cancellation of the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) and a CBI inquiry into alleged irregularities in conduction of the exam. The Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination is organised by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) and it recruits eligible graduates for Group B and Group C state government administrative and departmental posts. The state government has already ordered a CID probe that is underway. Meanwhile, the government, according to a senior government official privy to the Sunday's negotiations, the Jharkhand government agreed to annul 14th JPSC Preliminary Test (PT) for both regular and backlog vacancies, alongside the immediate cancellation of the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) exams. "Furthermore, the state government promised rigorous investigations into the Forest Range Officer (FRO) exams and all recruitment tests conducted by the controversial TDPL agency. While the deadlock over the CGL exam persists, the government remains open to structural JSSC reforms. It has also agreed to involve the Enforcement Directorate (ED) if the ongoing CID probe uncovers any financial fraud," the government official said. Minister for tourism, arts, culture, sports, and youth affairs Sudivya Kumar Sonu, who is spearheading the group of ministers tasked to negotiate with the protesting student groups, said that almost 98% of student demands have been accepted to ensure a fair academic and recruitment environment. He said that the government is also ready to set up fast-track courts for promising chargesheet within 90 days in cases of exam-related irregularities. The minister said that the core demand of students regarding the CGL exam cancellation falls outside the executive jurisdiction. "The state government does not have the authority to cancel the CGL examination. It was conducted following specific directives from both the high court and the Supreme Court. So, the government cannot unilaterally cancel the exam, nor can we legally overturn the appointments of candidates who have already been selected through this established process." As a "compromise", the minister announced, the government is fully prepared to constitute an independent inquiry committee, headed by a retired judge, to thoroughly investigate all alleged irregularities in the CGL process. But, the student leaders weren't satisfied with these assurances completely. Speaking on behalf of the protesting youth, student leader Piyush Kumar Singh rejected the government's partial concessions. "Because our primary demand to cancel the JSSC-CGL examination has not been met, our agitation will continue with full force," Singh asserted. "Accepting partial demands while ignoring the massive irregularities in the CGL exam is unacceptable to thousands of candidates who fought for a transparent system," he told HT. The failure of the talks is likely to trigger an escalation in protests. Singh announced that students from across the state will gather in Ranchi to hold a massive, peaceful march to the Legislative Assembly on August 10 to register their dissent. The Ranchi District Administration has deployed massive security arrangements and enforced Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNS) within a 750-metre radius of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly ahead of the August 10 Assembly gherao. The restrictive orders exclude the High Court premises but make all demonstrations, sit-ins, and assemblies illegal near the new Assembly building. Authorities have issued a stern warning to the agitating youth, urging them to prioritise their demands for better education and recruitment system and refrain from participating in aggressive demonstrations. The administration has emphasised that involvement in any violent or illegal activity could trigger strict legal action, creating a permanent negative record for students. Because most public and private sector jobs require mandatory police verification, a criminal record could severely jeopardise students' academic future and career prospects, officials have said in their advisories, urging them to adopt lawful means of protest....