After 16 days of fasting, Devendra Nath Mahto ended his hunger strike in a Ranchi hospital following the Jharkhand government’s decision to cancel the disputed recruitment exam.
Protestors, who have held a sit‑in since 25 July, continue to demand a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into alleged malpractices in state and national exams.
The activist, a prominent face of the movement, had been admitted to the hospital after his health deteriorated due to the fast.
Job‑seeking students in India, who rely on government positions for stability, have long been affected by irregularities in recruitment exams, with allegations of leaked question papers and unfair hiring practices.
In Jharkhand, protests intensified following preliminary civil service exam results that raised suspicions of manipulation.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that the exam would be scrapped and that all tests conducted by private agency TSR Data Processing Private Limited would be cancelled.
A committee will be convened to recommend reforms for the state’s examination system, while the CID’s investigation into the exam has already led to arrests including the head of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission.
Initial celebrations saw protestors dancing in a Ranchi stadium, yet many declared their stance would remain unchanged until a nationwide probe is announced.
