Jharkhand protest: Students to march to State Assembly tomorrow; three JPSC members resign | Highlights
Ranchi: The protest by students and job aspirants alleging irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examinations entered its 16th day on Sunday. The sixth round of talks between the Jharkhand government and protesting students resulted in the government agreeing to several demands, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination and backlog recruitment examinations of 2023 and 2025.
The government also agreed to a CID probe into alleged irregularities and proposed an ED investigation into alleged illicit financial transactions, along with a fast-track court and a recruitment reforms committee comprising experts from IIT-ISM, IIM Ranchi and XLRI.
However, protesting students have maintained their demand for a CBI inquiry and announced a Vidhan Sabha march on August 10. A student leader appealed to students across Jharkhand to join the march, saying the agitation would remain peaceful.
Meanwhile, Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar accepted the resignations of three JPSC members, Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmed, following a recommendation from the state government.
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Key Updates
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Protesting students call for peaceful Assembly march on Monday
A protesting student leader in Ranchi on Sunday said, “We appeal to all students from Jharkhand to join the ‘Vidhan Sabha March’ on Monday.” The leader said the agitation was non-violent and aimed at removing the alleged “job-selling system” in Jharkhand. The leader also said protesters would not allow anti-social elements to disrupt their peaceful and democratic agitation.
-PTI
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Government agrees to cancel 14th JPSC, 2023 and 2025 backlog exams
The Jharkhand government has agreed to several demands raised by protesting students, including the cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination and backlog recruitment examinations conducted in 2023 and 2025.
-ANI
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Three JPSC members resign
Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar has accepted the resignations of three JPSC members, Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmed following a recommendation from the Jharkhand government.
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Protesting aspirants reject govt proposal, say Assembly march will continue
Student leader Kunal said the protesters would continue their planned Vidhan Sabha gherao on August 10 peacefully, maintaining that their key demand for a CBI inquiry into the alleged recruitment exam irregularities would not be compromised.
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Jharkhand govt proposes CID, ED probes into alleged recruitment exam irregularities
Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu said on Sunday that the government has decided to address alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC and 2023–25 backlog recruitments through a CID probe, while seeking an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into alleged illicit financial transactions. He said a fast-track court would be constituted and charge sheets against the accused filed within 90 days.
The government also proposed a recruitment reforms committee comprising experts from IIT-ISM, IIM Ranchi and XLRI. However, it refused to cancel the CGL examination, citing court directions and judicial monitoring. The minister said students rejected the government's proposal for a monitoring committee headed by a retired judge.
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Jharkhand ministers speak to hunger-striking student leader Mahto, urge him to end fast
The Jharkhand government panel on Sunday spoke to protesting student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for eight days. His health deteriorated early Sunday after his blood glucose level dropped. Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar spoke to Mahto over a video call, enquired about his health and assured him that the issue would be resolved during the day. Mahto said Minister Dipika Pandey Singh also urged him to end his fast, but he would decide after the protesters' delegates return from talks with the government.
-PTI
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Jharkhand Governor urges protesting students to resolve issue through dialogue
Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Sunday urged students protesting alleged recruitment exam irregularities to resolve the matter through dialogue, saying the government's doors were open to them. “I urge youth to have full faith in CM's assurances; we do not want to play with students' future,” he said.
#WATCH | Ranchi, Jharkhand | On the JPSC-JSCC aspirants' protest, Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar says, "At this time, regarding the movement our students are carrying out, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has already explained some things in detail. I urge everyone to trust whatever… pic.twitter.com/sofhSeFOzE
— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2026 -
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CM Hemant Soren promises transparent justice to protesting aspirants
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday said the concerns of youths protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations were his concern and promised that those responsible would face strict action. “I promise the exam protesters that justice will be delivered with full transparency,” Soren said.
He stressed that dialogue, rather than force, was the way to resolve the issue, saying, “Samvad and not 'lathi-danda-bandook' (dialogue, not batons), can solve all problems.” He also urged protesters not to politicise their agitation and warned against attempts to misguide youths.
-PTI
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Union Minister Annapurna Devi hits out at Congress' "duplicitous character"
Union Minister Annapurna Devi on Sunday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party of "double standards" and a "duplicitous character" for remaining silent on the ongoing protests by job aspirants in Jharkhand.
Speaking to reporters, the Minister questioned why the Congress leadership, which is often vocal about student issues in other parts of the country, has ignored the agitations in the JMM-governed state.
"Rahul Gandhi hasn't uttered a single word for the children of Jharkhand, nor are Congress leaders stepping forward to speak… Why this double standard? If you truly care about the welfare of children, you should speak up everywhere," Annapurna Devi said.
The Union Minister alleged that the opposition chooses to remain silent on grievances in states where they or their allies are in power.
"They don't speak on Punjab, Karnataka, or Kerala. This clearly reveals their duplicitous character," she added.
Directing her remarks toward the Jharkhand administration, she demanded that the government acknowledge the students' concerns and take strict action against those responsible for any irregularities.
"We would like to tell the government and all parties in the government that if you have even the slightest sensitivity toward Jharkhand's students, you should accept the students' demands… There should not only be an investigation but also action, no matter who is involved," she asserted.
She urged the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha to take a stand, saying, "We would like to tell Rahul Gandhi to break his silence." -
Key meeting of Govt with protesters begins in Ranchi
The Jharkhand state government is holding talks with the representatives of the JPSC-JSSC aspirants as part of the efforts to settle the stir, which began on July 25. Talking to the media, a representative of the protesters expressed faith in the Chief Minister. The authorities have placed tight security at the State Guest House in Ranchi ahead of the meeting.
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Salute students for demanding CBI probe: Union Minister Sanjay Seth
Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Sunday extended support to the ongoing JPSC-JSSC aspirants' protest, declaring that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appreciates the students for demanding a CBI or ED investigation into the matter alongside the cancellation of the examination.
Speaking to ANI, the Union Minister stated that the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government ought to have called the youth for talks on the very first day, alleging that the state government is attempting to divide the students into various groups through continuous meetings.
"You (government) should have called the children for talks on the very first day and gone there yourself. We also salute the students who are demanding an investigation by the CBI and ED and demanding the cancellation of the exam. What is the objection to getting an investigation done by the CBI?This is not a paper leak; rather, every single seat here has been sold. For ₹1.5 crore, you can become a DSP. Open prices are being set. Now, they don't even want a CBI investigation for this, and the students are being divided into various groups with meeting after meeting. The children of Jharkhand have sent a message across the country that an investigation by the ED and CBI must be done. We will accept nothing less than this," said Seth. -
Man alleges attempts to move Mahato on hunger strike from protest site
Prem Nayak, a protester at the ongoing protests over the alleged irregularities in Jharkhand's recruitment examinations, alleged that a medical team visited repeatedly during the night and efforts were made to remove Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahato from the protest site, similar to activist Sonam Wangchuk's removal from the Jantar Mantar during the Delhi student protests.
"Last night, efforts were also made to take Devendra Nath Mahato. Given the way the administration is behaving, it seems somewhere they want to lift Devendra Nath Mahato, or as I feel, they want to lift him and make it so that once he wakes up, they take him to the hospital just like they did with Sonu Wangchuk, and then suppress this movement," he said.
Claiming that this is a tactic to suppress the movement, Nayak underlined that the protesters are holding peaceful protests while strictly following the law and the Constitution.
"They know that as long as Devendra Nath remains steadfast here, the movement will intensify and the crowd will keep growing. You can see the crowd grew yesterday; it will grow today, and it will keep growing. We want to tell the Government of India and the Government of Jharkhand that we are holding our constitution in our hands and carrying out our movement constitutionally. Therefore, we should not be harassed. We are just keeping our demands peacefully, and until today we have strictly and cleanly followed the law and the constitution while putting forward our demands," he said. -
"My body's organs are unable to cope": Devendra Nath Mahto
The health of student leader Devendra Nath Mahto has deteriorated sharply as the youth agitation for sweeping recruitment reforms entered its 15th day.
Speaking with ANI, Mahto, who is on an indefinite hunger strike at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, said the prolonged fast has taken a severe physical toll. Protesters continue to demand major changes in the state's recruitment process.
"I am facing significant difficulty in speaking. The doctor said my blood sugar and blood pressure are low, and my entire body is dehydrated... My body's organs are unable to cope," he said.
Physically weakened by 15 days on water and salt, a mode of protest he adopted after an appeal by social activist Sonam Wangchuk, student leader Devendra Nath Mahto remains engaged with the agitation.
Commenting on negotiations between student representatives and state authorities, Mahto said a designated delegation has stepped in to represent the protesters in his absence.
"I haven't gone, though; the students went instead. They have submitted their list of demands. The government has assured them that their demands are legitimate and has stated that they are considering the matter," Mahto added.
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This is a fight for next generation, says student protester
Umme Hani, a student who joined the protest in Ranchi told ANI that the agitation is a fight for the next generation.
“If the government doesn't accept our demands, we will continue our protests… Because we want a reform in the system… We are not just fighting for ourselves. This is a fight for the next generation,” she said. -
Hunger strike continues amid govt talks
A group of JPSC-JSSC aspirants are continuing their hunger strike at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand, since August 2.
“ The team of doctors visited us continuously last night. Attempts were made to wake up Devendra Nath Mahto last night. Looking at the administration's behaviour, it seems they want to take Devendra Nath Mahto to the hospital and treat him similarly to how Sonam Wangchuk was treated so they could end this agitation. Till the time Devendra Nath Mahto continues, this protest will strengthen, and the crowd here will increase… We were called today at 12 noon by the government. But the government wants to give us toffees and biscuits to coax us like children… We demand that the Chief Minister talk to us directly and take strict action. What issue does he have with that?… Let's see what happens today after the team goes for the meet,' said Prem Nayak, who is on hunger strike.
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Student leader calls for unity among protesters
Ravindra Paswan, a student leader, accused the state government of attempting to fragment the movement and warned of a massive 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' march on August 10 if demands were not met.
"The government is playing games, trying to fragment this movement into 2-3 different factions," he alleged.
Paswan asserted that students across Jharkhand remained united and said the government should accept their demands at the earliest.
"All the students of Jharkhand stand united on a single platform. The government must accept our legitimate demands as soon as possible; otherwise, for the 'Vidhan Sabha March' we have announced for the 10th, 50,000-100,000 students from across Jharkhand will arrive, and that protest will be decisive," he said.
"This is what we want to convey to the government. Accountability must be fixed that day, and you will have to officially endorse our demands," he added.
#WATCH | JPSC-JSSC aspirants' protest in Ranchi | Ranchi: Student leader Ravindra Paswan says, "We called this press conference to address the confusion being spread in Jharkhand. We have been staging an indefinite sit-in protest for the past 15 days... We received an invitation… pic.twitter.com/3jyvlrPQoQ
— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2026 -
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Fresh round of talks today at 12 pm
As the five rounds of talks failed to break the deadlock, the government decided to hold a sixth round of talks with student representatives around 12 pm on Sunday. The decision for another round of talks was taken after a four-hour meeting between the government panel and Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday evening.
Rural Development Minister Dipika Pandey Singh said the panel had apprised the chief minister of the demands and concerns raised by student delegations during the discussions. "It was decided in the meeting with the chief minister that a final round of talks with the protesting students will take place at 12 pm on Sunday," she said.
Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav said the government would continue discussions with the agitators demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
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