Ranchi: Students and government job aspirants in Jharkhand planned a “Tiranga Yatra” in Ranchi on August 15, 2026, as part of Independence Day observances and to highlight their concerns regarding alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.

Why are students protesting?

On July 25, 2026, students and government job aspirants took to the streets of Ranchi, citing alleged paper leaks and recruitment irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

The JPSC was constituted under Article 315 of the Constitution of India and conducts competitive examinations for recruitment to various state government posts. The JSSC, constituted under the Jharkhand Act 16 of 2008, conducts recruitment examinations for various Group C posts in different government departments.

Concerns regarding recruitment examinations in Jharkhand have been raised on several occasions in the past. In connection with the second JPSC examination, allegations of irregularities had earlier led to a judicially directed CBI investigation. A chargesheet was subsequently filed in 2024 following the investigation.

In the case of the JSSC examination held in January 2024, allegations were raised regarding the leakage of questions from the General Knowledge section. The examination was subsequently cancelled and a re-examination was conducted.

More recently, reports citing CID investigations have referred to allegations that money was collected from candidates in connection with the JSSC CGL examination. These allegations remain subject to investigation and should not be treated as established facts.

Demands of the protesters

The protest continued for several days, with protesters raising concerns over an alleged answer sheet circulated on social media and demanding the cancellation of the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination. They also sought an investigation into alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations.

The protesters formed an 11-member delegation for discussions with government officials.

Political dynamics in Jharkhand

The Jharkhand government is led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The ruling alliance includes the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the principal opposition party in the state.

About the protest

The movement has been led by students and job aspirants under the Joint Students Front. Devendra Nath Mahto has emerged as one of the prominent faces of the protest and has previously participated in campaigns concerning recruitment examinations.

Devendra Nath Mahto began an indefinite hunger strike in Ranchi on August 3. Other protesters also joined the fast. Reports said that the health of some protesters deteriorated during the hunger strike, with some requiring medical attention.

Sonam Wangchuk also appealed to Mahto to take care of his health. Following the appeal, Mahto agreed to consume water while continuing his protest.

What happened so far?

Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were imposed within a 750-metre radius of the Assembly from 8 AM on August 6 to 10 PM on August 12.

Mahto announced a march towards the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly on August 10, stating that the protest could be expanded if their demands were not addressed. On August 10, police security and barricades were deployed around the Assembly. Discussions were held between representatives of the protesters and the authorities, but no immediate agreement was reached.

During the protest near the Assembly, police used measures including lathi charges, tear gas and water cannons to control the crowd, according to reports. Devendra Nath Mahto was subsequently taken to Ranchi Sadar Hospital.

Jharkhand Health Minister Dr Ifran Ansari met the protesters and Mahto at the hospital. Some protesters alleged that excessive force was used during the demonstration, while the circumstances surrounding the police action remain a matter of public and official discussion.

The BJP also raised the issue in the political arena, with opposition leaders demanding action from the state government over the protest. BJP legislators protested inside the Assembly, leading to disruptions in proceedings.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) also organised a protest march in Ranchi. Reports said that more than 100 ABVP workers were detained during the demonstration. An FIR was also reported to have been filed against several people in connection with the August 10 Assembly march.

Devendra Nath Mahto was later reported to have been restricted from leaving the hospital to attend the Tiranga Yatra. He had sought permission to participate in the programme. He also claimed that police deployment had increased ahead of Independence Day.

Government's response

On August 11, Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced in the Assembly that the 14th JPSC examination would be cancelled. He also announced that two other backlog examinations would be cancelled and that the government would investigate examinations conducted through TDPL.

Soren said the government was committed to addressing the concerns of students and undertaking reforms in the recruitment examination system. He also criticised the BJP over its approach to the issue.

The protesters, meanwhile, have indicated that they intend to continue raising their demands until they receive further action from the government.