JPSC-JSSC Exam Row: Jharkhand students show the real way to protest

The Jharkhand students and youth agitation started on July 25, 2026 at Ranchi, the capital city of the Jharkhand state. It was five days after the “Sansad-Chalo” march held by the Jantar-Mantar protesters in Delhi on July 20, 2026 that showcased the magnitude of their agitation, primarily organised by the CJP, as abusive, indecent, violent and devoid of the moral standards. The tone and tenor at Jantar-Mantar which gave a reflection of anti-national sentiments and slogans had already vitiated the atmosphere at the venue of the agitation well before the march. Therefore, their march on July 25, 2026 had a highly surcharged and motivated context. It was in such a background of controversial events that the students and youth of Jharkhand sat on a strike and sit-in-protest in the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium at Ranchi to press for resolution of their demands from the Jharkhand government. Initially, the state government didn’t move at all but the agitators showed a great amount of patience, perseverance and dedication to the cause. Here it needs to be understood that the protesters in Ranchi aren’t led by any political party or an ideological group or a motivated usual eveready agitators as was the case at Jantar-Mantar Delhi. The agitators in Ranchi mostly comprise the job aspirants joined by the students of the state. They alleged huge irregularities and corruption in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They haven’t till date permitted any political leader or prominent political activist of any political party or its affiliate to come on the stage of the agitation or highjack the course of events. The reasonable distance from political groupings has surely given the agitation a special identity and recognition in the eyes of the public at large not only in the state but throughout the nation. In fact they have attracted sympathies from the countrymen significantly. A large number of students from various places have come to join them. The ongoing student agitation in Ranchi centers on protests against the alleged irregularities, paper leaks and corruption in the JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations. The agitation is being led by a group of student figures including Devendra Nath Mahto -the leader who went on an indefinite hunger strike on 2nd August 2026. They staged prolonged sit-ins, hunger strikes and an assembly march demanding a CBI probe, cancellation of tainted examinations and systemic reforms. The protesters specifically allege severe corruption and paper leaks in major state competitive examinations like the 14th JPSC and JSSC tests. The students have completely rejected the state government’s CID probe and insist on a CBI investigation. They have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the administrative overhaul. Although the state government cancelled certain preliminary exams, accepted some demands and saw JPSC members resign; the students have persisted with their core agitation for a CBI inquiry and thorough investigation. Also Read: Reliance-Rolls Royce to develop 5th-gen fighter jet engine; Major leap in defence self-reliance, frontier military tech The agitation peaked on August 10 & 11, 2026 when thousands of students attempted to breach barricades towards the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. It resulted in a heavy police crackdown involving lathi-charges, tear gas, and water cannons on the agitators. A large number of student leaders and protesters including Devendra Nath Mahto and Rahul Kranti were hospitalized following extended hunger strikes and clashes with the security forces. The police and administration continued with their action throughout the night of August 10-11, 2026. The BJP which is in the opposition in the state gave outside support to the agitation. However, in response to the police action against the student protestors, the BJP called for a statewide Jharkhand Bandh on August 11, 2026. BJP enforced its Bandh call throughout the state leading to road blockades and disruptions in Ranchi and other districts. However, it helped the cause of the agitators in a way that an awareness campaign was unleashed by a number of forces in regard to the agitation in the entire state and pressure on the government in regard to the agitation increased. There is a great difference between the two agitations, one held at Jantar-Mantar and the other in process at Ranchi. The Jantar-Mantar protests were led by non-students, funded by known and unknown sources both internal as well as external, joined by Bollywood figures having their allegiance to the left orientation and urban-naxals, activists who raised anti-national slogans at the venue consistently, anti-social elements who had nothing to do with NEET issue and who resorted to filthy and abusive language and violence on 20th July against police and paramilitary forces. They didn’t shy away from damaging public and private properties during their march on 20th July and are on record in regard to all their nefarious activities. In comparison, the Ranchi agitation has remained peaceful despite a number of provocations. The organisers didn’t accept help from doubtful figures and didn’t allow the agitation to go into the hands of political figures. There were no political, anti-national or anti-social slogans raised by any section of the agitators. The Left leaning student body AISA President, Neha Bora was not allowed to make a speech there and was politely asked to leave the stage. The agitators all along sang songs of patriotism and bhajans and also used the right and polished language during their speeches, press briefings and other expressions. The temple committees and other social activists like Bhairav Singh organised food for the agitators. The organisers at Ranchi unlike at Jantar-Mantar always expressed their preference for simple and Jharkhand based food items for the agitators. The public came forward voluntarily to help the protestors. The opposition parties and leaders who day in and day out came in support of the Jantar-Mantar stir kept themselves aloof from Ranchi and paid no attention to the agitation. The leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and others who criticised the way the protestors in Delhi were dealt with by the police [...]