Student leaders in Ranchi held a press briefing to demand a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in state recruitment exams.
The protests highlight deep concerns over the integrity of the 14th JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations. If systemic corruption is proven, it could undermine the credibility of civil service appointments across Jharkhand.
Following a core committee meeting, student representatives outlined their primary demands, which include the total cancellation of the contested exams, and the establishment of a transparent recruitment process [1, 2]. Hundreds of students have continued to protest in the streets of Ranchi [4].
The duration of the demonstrations has been reported inconsistently across sources, with reports citing the protests entering their 12th [2], 14th [1], and 24th [3] days. Despite the conflicting timelines, the movement has pressured the state government to address the grievances of the candidates.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the state government has "eyes and ears" and is sensitive to the concerns of students [5].
In response to the ongoing unrest, the Jharkhand government announced the cancellation of exams conducted by TDPL [3]. This move marks a significant shift in the government's approach to the row, though student leaders continue to push for a more comprehensive federal investigation by the CBI to ensure a corruption-free process [1, 2].
The protesters argue that only an independent agency can provide a fair audit of the recruitment irregularities. They maintain that the current state-led oversight is insufficient to restore public trust in the examination system [2].
“The state government has "eyes and ears" and is sensitive to the concerns of students.”
The demand for a CBI probe indicates a breakdown of trust between the youth and state-level examination bodies in Jharkhand. While the cancellation of TDPL-conducted exams provides some relief, the insistence on a federal investigation suggests that protesters view state-led corrections as insufficient to prevent future corruption in high-stakes civil service recruitment.
