Student protests in Jharkhand enter 13th day, more join hunger strike

Written By: DW

Published By: Mary Rose Baba

Updated: Thu, 6 Aug 2026 (15:21 IST)

In Jharkhand, the student protest against alleged irregularities in government recruitment exams has intensified, as five more protesters have joined the hunger strike.

The sit-in protests in Jharkhand began on July 25. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto has been on an indefinite hunger strike in the state capital, Ranchi, since August 2.

He has been demanding action over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (JSSC CGL) and other competitive examinations required to qualify for government jobs.

Five more protesters joined Mahto on the hunger strike on Tuesday.

"We are surrounding the Assembly because our core demands and issues centre on cancelling the JPSC and CGL examinations," protester Radhe Kumar told ANI news agency.

"Furthermore, we demand the complete cancellation of every exam conducted under the present government by the agency TDPL. Following these cancellations, we demand a CBI and ED investigation, followed by comprehensive structural reforms in the JSSC, JPSC and CGL examination systems," Kumar said.

Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) Abhijeet Dipke has backed the students' protest in Jharkhand.

"Spoke to the students who are protesting in Jharkhand over irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment exams. The CJP stands with all the students in Jharkhand and supports their demands," Dipke said in a social media post.

Spoke to the students who are protesting in Jharkhand over irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment exams.

The CJP stands with all the students in Jharkhand and support their demands. pic.twitter.com/lLSRhFVpv1

— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) August 2, 2026

The protesting students have also announced a march to the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10. The monsoon session of the Assembly began today.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren has assured the protesting students that his government would "soon take action" over alleged exam irregularities in state recruitment exams and has invited them for talks, according to the Times of India newspaper.