Jharkhand Students Protest: Youth Demand Fair Exams After Leak Allegations

Weeks after thousands of young Indians poured onto the streets of Delhi in a major ‘cockroach’ protest over examination paper leaks, another group of frustrated job seekers is making headlines here, hundreds of miles away, in the eastern state of Jharkhand.

Since 25 July, protestors have gathered at a stadium in the state capital Ranchi, demanding an overhaul of the state’s civil service examination system. Some have been sleeping outdoors, and several have gone on hunger strike.

One of the protesting voices is 27‑year‑old Umme Habiba from Bokaro, who has taken the exam three times. “We want justice. We will not leave until we get it, even if it costs us our lives,” she told reporters.

The agitation stemmed from a preliminary civil service exam held in April. After results were announced, candidates alleged that leaked answer sheets posted on social media showed some successful applicants had answered far fewer questions than expected, fuelling suspicions of manipulated results. Protestors want the exam scrapped, a re‑exam, and an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The accusations are under investigation by Jharkhand’s Criminal Investigation Department. The Jharkhand Public Service Commission has postponed the next stage of the examination and its chairman resigned on 22 July. Investigators are also probing a private company that ran part of the exam process.

Jharkhand minister Deepika Pandey Singh told the BBC the state had begun investigating allegations even before the protest, urging participants to let the CID finish its work instead of demanding a federal investigation. She added that the government would discuss the protestors’ demand to cancel the April exam directly.

Beyond a single exam, protesters seek wider reforms

The protestors want a probe into alleged recruitment irregularities, accountability for those responsible and the completion of delayed hiring. A steady government job offers salary, status and a route into the middle class, making examinations a fiercely contested arena in India.

In Jharkhand, repeated delays mean many candidates remain dependent on their parents while eyes on the future slip further away. Savita Kumari, who began preparing in 2019, fell hopeful when her name was missing from the results and cried through the night, suspecting manipulation.

Political support adds a new dimension

Unlike the CJP protests in Delhi, the Ranchi movement has received backing from the BJP, which is in opposition in Jharkhand, and from Congress, a partner in the state government but an opponent at the national level. Both parties have staged demonstrations, raised the issue in the state assembly and demanded a federal investigation.

One of protest’s most visible faces is Devendra Nath Mahto, a former state election candidate and student who joined protests over another state examination in 2023. He is on hunger strike and says, “Even if I didn’t take the exam today, I will have to take it tomorrow.”

Many protestors insist the movement remains their own and foreign political parties should stay out of the agenda. “Students will lead this movement,” said Vikram Kumar, a former candidate for an assistant engineer post. “They will be on the stage and in front. Politicians can support them but should leave their party flag and agenda at home.”

The government has offered talks, and protesters formed an 11‑member delegation. While the formal meeting had yet to occur, Habiba says the protestors want trustable investigations and transparent exams. For now, they are still waiting.

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