The story so far: The peaceful protest in Ranchi has entered its 13th day on Wednesday (August 6, 2026), after starting on July 25. Hundreds of students have gathered at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry and action against those responsible for alleged irregularities in competitive exams for government jobs in the State, including in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Combined Civil Services Examination, and the Jharkhand General Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examination, which is also known as Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) exam.
The students have asserted that their agitation will continue until the government makes a concrete decision on their demands. The Jharkhand Crime Investigation Department (CID) is investigating the irregularities, having questioned former JPSC chairman L. Khiangte and arrested 19 people so far. The Jharkhand Government has also formed a four-member team to hold talks with the students, who have agreed to engage in talks.
However, the government has not yet shared the official date, time or venue for the meeting. A protest march to the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly in Ranchi has been announced for Friday (August 7, 2026) by the All India Students’ Association (AISA), in which its national president Neha Bora will also participate.
The protesters are primarily demanding a CBI inquiry, the cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Test and a review of exams conducted by agencies, including TSR Data Processing Private Limited.
They also want a ‘not attempted’ option as the fifth choice on OMR sheets, rectification of irregularities and paper leaks in recruitment exams, strict action against those responsible and comprehensive reforms within the JPSC and JSSC.
The Jharkhand Government and State Police have not taken any coercive action against the protesting students in Ranchi, unlike the Jantar Mantar protest, where police used baton charges and tear gas.
Students hold a long tri-colour flag during the protest against the alleged JPSC exam paper leak in Ranchi on August 5, 2026. | Photo Credit: ANI
Jharkhand police have not taken any such action. Every evening, when the protesting students take out candle marches and the Tiranga March, locals, job aspirants, and other people join their march, giving moral support to their demands.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has assured the students that all measures will be taken and their concerns will be addressed seriously.
The government has also sent a representative to urge students to send a delegation to the Chief Minister’s residence for talks. Mr. Soren has asserted that the students’ concerns are an extremely serious matter for the government and noted that the issue of paper leaks is not just Jharkhand’s alone but has become a major national problem affecting youth across many States. He told the protesters that the government is addressing the situation and that the investigations are ongoing.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has voiced support for the protesters, with its founder Abhijeet Dipke expressing solidarity with the students in Jharkhand and their demands. Educationist Sonam Wangchuk also backed the students and spoke to Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Mahto, who ended his four-day fast after their call.
Even Jharkhand Congress, the alliance partner of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led government, has given moral support, while National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) President Vinod Jakhar visited the protest site and assured them that their demands would be forcefully raised before the government. Jharkhand Congress Working President Bandhu Tirkey has sent refreshments to students at the site and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma urged the State Government to meet their demands.
The Opposition in Jharkhand, mainly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has assured that they will raise their demands in the monsoon session, which began on August 6. The Leader of Opposition in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly Babulal Marandi has already met the students and called their demands “genuine”. The BJP has demanded a CBI inquiry under the supervision of the High Court.
BJP has asserted that if the Jharkhand Government is not listening to the Congress, the Congress should immediately withdraw its support. BJP has claimed that the JPSC examination points to “paper fixing” rather than just a “paper leak” and jobs were “sold”. The BJP has also alleged that candidates with lower marks passed, while those with higher marks failed, and the agency conducting the exam “orchestrated the scam” with the “State Government’s blessing”. The Opposition has also sought the resignation of the Jharkhand CM on moral grounds.
Published - August 06, 2026 02:10 pm IST
Ranchi / Jharkhand / demonstration / education / police / civil and public service / The Hindu Explains
Source: The Hindu - India News
