A growing student movement in India’s Jharkhand state is demanding fresh civil service exams and an independent investigation, saying thousands of young people’s futures are at stake amid allegations of recruitment malpractice.
Hundreds of students and government job applicants have taken to the streets in India’s eastern state of Jharkhand, demanding the cancellation of a preliminary civil service examination held in April over allegations of irregularities.
The protesters are calling for the exam to be conducted again and want India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe alleged malpractice in several state recruitment examinations. They are also seeking a fast-track court to handle cases linked to the controversy.
The demonstrations began on 25 July and have continued to grow. On 29 July, hundreds of candidates gathered at a stadium in Ranchi, the state capital, where they launched an indefinite sit-in protest.
Some protesters have gone a step further. Political activist Devendra Nath Mahto and a few others have been on a hunger strike since Sunday, saying they will continue until the government addresses their demands.
“We are fighting for our future and for a fair recruitment process,” protesters have repeatedly said during the demonstrations, insisting that deserving candidates should not lose opportunities because of alleged manipulation.
The controversy erupted after the preliminary examination results were announced last month. Some candidates claimed answer sheets circulating online suggested that successful applicants had answered fewer questions than expected, raising suspicions about the integrity of the selection process.
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Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the allegations are being investigated and assured students that justice would be done. He confirmed that the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was probing the recruitment process, including claims that the examination contract was awarded to an agency previously accused of irregularities. More than a dozen people have reportedly been arrested.
The issue has quickly become political, with both the ruling alliance and opposition parties expressing support for the protesters. The movement has also gained national attention after the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, which recently led major protests in Delhi over exam paper leaks, announced its support for the students in Jharkhand.
With the main examination already postponed and investigations continuing, many candidates say they will remain on the streets until they receive what they believe is a transparent and fair recruitment process.
