State government agreed to cancel three examinations, ED probe into financial irregularities of 14th JPSC exam and resignation of the three JPSC members [ 1 ] Government of Jharkhand Jharkhand Police Devendra Nath Mahto Multiple students injured 14 police personnel injured (per Jharkhand Police) [ 2 ] The 2026 Jharkhand student protests is a state-wide student movement held in Jharkhand during the year 2026, which started over alleged irregularities in the recruitment examinations of Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), transparency in the examination management and recruitment process. The candidates in the movement demanded a fair investigation of the controversial examinations, action against the culprits and ensuring a transparent recruitment process. The protests were held mainly in various parts of the state including Ranchi , which included events like dharna, demonstration, padyatra and indefinite hunger strike. The movement also received support from various student organizations, social organizations and many political leaders. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] July 29, 2026: Candidates began a sit-in at Ranchi's Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium to protest alleged irregularities in the JPSC exam. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] August 2, 2026: Student leader and Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto began an indefinite hunger strike to support the protesters. [ 11 ] [ 12 ] August 5, 2026: On the 12th day of the agitation, students announced a Tiranga March and a gherao of the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10. [ 13 ] August 6, 2026: The monsoon session of the Jharkhand Assembly began amid opposition protests and student agitation over the JPSC-JSSC recruitment exam controversy. Police detained 19 people during the demonstration. [ 14 ] August 7, 2026: The agitation entered its 14th day. The students' hunger strike continued, an 11-member delegation prepared for talks with the government, and the movement also received political support. [ 3 ] [ 15 ] August 10, 2026: Protesters began the "Vidhan Sabha Gherao" march to the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly , with Devendra Nath Mahto joining them in an ambulance. [ 16 ] The Jharkhand Police used lathi charge , tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters. [ 17 ] Mahto was admitted to Sadar Hospital, Ranchi , after the march due to deteriorating health. [ 18 ] The Jharkhand CID meanwhile arrested former JPSC chairperson L. Khinagte over alleged irregularities in the recruitment examinations. [ 19 ] August 11, 2026: Bharatiya Janata Party – Jharkhand enforced a statewide bandh in protest against alleged "police atrocities" during the student march on 10 August. [ 20 ] More than 200 members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) were detained by the police during their attempted march towards the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly to protest the lathi charge against students. A clash was triggered between the group and the police after some ABVP workers tried to stop a van carrying the detained members. [ 21 ] [ 22 ] August 15, 2026: The protesters took out a Tiranga Yatra on the occasion of Independence Day . Mahto stated that the Jharkhand Police forcefully prevented him from joining the procession. [ 23 ] The protesting students and candidates placed several demands before the Jharkhand government. These included canceling the 14th JPSC preliminary examination, conducting a CBI or judicial inquiry into alleged irregularities and question paper leaks in the recruitment examinations, ensuring transparency and accountability in the JPSC and JSSC recruitment processes, and adopting a fair and timely process for future recruitment examinations. The protesters also demanded that action be taken against those allegedly involved in the recruitment process and that the interests of eligible candidates be protected. [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 14 ] [ 26 ] [ 27 ] [ 28 ] Government response In response to the student movement, the Jharkhand government initiated talks with representatives of the protesting students. An 11-member delegation was formed to negotiate between the government and the protesters. During this meeting, the state government pledged to consider complaints related to recruitment examinations and seek solutions through dialogue. Meanwhile, protection was tightened in Ranchi during the protest, and additional police forces were deployed in anticipation of the protests during the monsoon session of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly . [ 29 ] [ 3 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] The activities of TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), an IT firm which was blacklisted in 2024, are a major focus of the police investigation as it was allowed to conduct the examinations in 2025 and 2026. [ 32 ] The Jharkhand Crime Investigation Department (CID) has detained at least 20 individuals in the investigation against the alleged irregularities, including former JPSC chairperson L. Khiangte and TDPL director Ramvir Singh. [ 33 ] The Jharkhand Police used lathi charge , tear gas and water cannons against protesters on 10 August during their march to the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly . [ 17 ] The state police alleged that some of the protesters had turned violent, attempting to break through the barricades and engaging in stone pelting. [ 34 ] Political reactions Various political parties and leaders expressed their reactions to the protests. Opposition parties demanded an impartial investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment exams and consideration of the candidates' demands. Several leaders met with the protesting students and expressed their support. Meanwhile, the state government advocated for a solution through dialogue and appealed to the students for talks. [ 35 ] [ 30 ] [ 6 ] As a result of the movement, the issue of transparency and fairness of recruitment examinations in Jharkhand became a major topic of statewide political and public discourse. This controversy also led to the issue of alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations being raised prominently in the monsoon session of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly . During the movement, a dialogue process began between the state government and protesting students, and the students formed an 11-member delegation to negotiate with the government. The movement also sparked widespread discussion about the state's recruitment system, examination management, and the need for reforms. [ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 39 ] The movement received support from various student organizations, social activists, and political leaders. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi expressed concern over alleged irregularities in the recruitment exams and stressed the need to address students' demands and reform the education and recruitment systems. Meanwhile, the state government vowed to continue dialogue with students. [ 35 ] [ 40 ] [ 14 ] Jharkhand Public Service Commission ↑ "Jharkhand agrees to cancel 3 examinations; all 3 JPSC members resign" . The Indian Express . 10 August 2026 . Retrieved 10 August 2026 . ↑ "AppJharkhand Protest: Police Say "Mild Lathi-Charge" Used, 14 Cops Injured" . Press Trust of India . NDTV . 11 August 2026 . Retrieved 11 August 2026 . 1 2 3 "Jharkhand protestors form 11-member panel for talks with government over recruitment exam row" . The Economic Times . 6 August 2026. Archived from the original on 6 August 2026 . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ Srivastava, Vijaya (2 August 2026). " 'Cancel JPSC exam': Jharkhand students continue protest, seek CBI investigation" . The Times of India . Archived from the original on 2 August 2026 . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ "Jharkhand protest: Students to march to Assembly on August 7 over JPSC, JSSC corruption" . The Week . 5 August 2026 . Retrieved 7 August 2026 . 1 2 "Jharkhand protest: Students form 11-member panel for talks with Hemant Soren government" . Careers360 . 6 August 2026 . Retrieved 7 August 2026 . ↑ Bhelari, Amit (6 August 2026). "Protesting students form 11-member team to hold talks with Jharkhand government" . The Hindu . Retrieved 7 August 2026 . ↑ Rai, Raman (6 August 2026). "How Jharkhand Student Protests Are Different From Agitation At Delhi's Jantar Mantar: CJP, Devendra Nath Mahto" . NDTV . Retrieved 7 August 2026 . ↑ "Thousands of students protest in Ranchi over alleged irregularities in JPSC, JSSC exams" . ThePrint . Press Trust of India . 29 July 2026 . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ Bhelari, Amit (6 August 2026). "Why are the students protesting in Ranchi?Explained" . The Hindu . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ "Jharkhand Exam Protest Escalates as Student Begins Hunger Strike" . Press Trust of India . Deccan Chronicle . 3 August 2026 . Retrieved 10 August 2026 . ↑ "Sonam Wangchuk urges Jharkhand exam protester to drink water as hunger strike enters fourth day; five more join fast" . Press Trust of India . The Telegraph . 5 August 2026 . Retrieved 10 August 2026 . ↑ "Jharkhand JPSC-JSSC protest enters Day 12: Students plan Tiranga March, Assembly gherao on August 10" . The Times of India . Archived from the original on 5 August 2026 . Retrieved 8 August 2026 .

1 2 3 ASRP Mukesh (6 August 2026). "Monsoon session of Jharkhand Assembly begins amid opposition protests over JPSC-JSSC exam irregularities" . The Times of India . Archived from the original on 6 August 2026 . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ Chatterjee, Akash; Kumar, Satyajeet (3 August 2026). "Ranchi's Jantar Mantar moment: Student protest enters new phase with CJP backing" . India Today . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ " 'Govt. will have to listen to us': Devendra Nath Mahato joins 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march" . The Hindu . 10 August 2026 . Retrieved 10 August 2026 . 1 2 " "My Head Is Bleeding": Student Protester Injured In Police Lathicharge In Jharkhand" . NDTV . 10 August 2026 . Retrieved 10 August 2026 . ↑ "Jharkhand exam row: JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto hospitalised after 9-day hunger strike" . The Times of India . 10 August 2026 . Retrieved 11 August 2026 . ↑ "Jharkhand CID arrests ex-JPSC chairperson over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams" . Press Trust of India . The Hindu . 10 August 2026 . Retrieved 11 August 2026 . ↑ "Jharkhand bandh: Normal life hit as BJP protests police action against job aspirants" . Press Trust of India . The Telegraph . 11 August 2026 . Retrieved 11 August 2026 . ↑ "Jharkhand protest: 110 ABVP workers detained amid clashes with police" . The Times of India . 11 August 2026 . Retrieved 11 August 2026 . ↑ Tigga, Shubham (11 August 2026). "Jharkhand: 200 ABVP activists detained during march against lathi-charge on protesters" . The Indian Express . Retrieved 11 August 2026 . ↑ "Jharkhand job aspirants take out 'Tiranga Yatra' in Ranchi on day 22 of exam protest" . Press Trust of India . The Print. 15 August 2026 . Retrieved 15 August 2026 . ↑ "Transparency must be brought: Jharkhand students continue indefinite Satyagraha over alleged JPSC, JSSC irregularities" . The Times of India . 31 July 2026. Archived from the original on 31 July 2026 . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ Kumar, Mayank (3 August 2026). "Jharkhand students are protesting 'cycle of paper leaks'. It began with a viral answer sheet" . ThePrint . Archived from the original on 3 August 2026 . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ "Explained Why are Jharkhand students protesting? Inside the JPSC, JSSC recruitment row" . Deccan Herald . 3 August 2026. Archived from the original on 4 August 2026 . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ Ehraj, Faham (31 July 2026). "AJSU Protest Over 14th JPSC Exam Row Triggers Demand for CBI Probe and Reforms" . Jagran Josh . Archived from the original on 31 July 2026. ↑ Bains, Kanchan (5 August 2026). "Jharkhand Student Protest: JPSC-JSSC recruitment row explained" . Nav Bharat Journal . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ Dharmadhikari, Siddhi (6 August 2026). "Jharkhand students' protest: 11-member delegation formed for talks with govt" . The Times of India . Archived from the original on 6 August 2026 . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . 1 2 Srivastava, Subhadra (7 August 2026). "Jharkand student protest Day 14: Hunger strike continues as BJP, Rahul Gandhi back students" . The Times of India . Archived from the original on 7 August 2026 . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ Warli, Lairenlakpam (7 August 2026). " 'We are children, not terrorists': Students on hunger strike urge Jharkhand CM to meet protesters" . The Times of India . Archived from the original on 7 August 2026. ↑ Kumar, Mayank (6 August 2026). "Blacklisted firm in eye of Jharkhand exam row never bid for contract. It was 'nominated', probe reveals" . ThePrint . Retrieved 15 August 2026 . ↑ Kumar, Prabhakar; Sharma, Haribansh (13 August 2026). "70 Lakhs, Fixed Interviews: Arrested Official's Jharkhand Job 'Scam' Revelation" . NDTV . Retrieved 15 August 2026 . ↑ Pasha, Dilnawaz; Sachdev, Anahita (10 August 2026). "India police fire tear gas at protesters seeking exam reforms" . BBC . Retrieved 10 August 2026 . 1 2 Ghildiyal, Subodh (7 August 2026). "Rahul reaches out to Gen Z, backs student stir in Jharkhand" . The Times of India . Archived from the original on 7 August 2026 . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ Tigga, Shubham (27 July 2026). "JPSC Exam Controversy: Why recruitment exams in Jharkhand have faced scrutiny" . The Indian Express . Archived from the original on 27 July 2026 . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ "JPSC-JSSC को भ्रष्टाचार मुक्त बनाने की मांग, 7 अगस्त को विधानसभा मार्च" . Dainik Jagran . 5 August 2026 . Retrieved 7 August 2026 . ↑ "Students continue protests in Ranchi over alleged JPSC, JSSC exam irregularities, demand CBI probe" . The Hindu . 3 August 2026. Archived from the original on 3 August 2026 . Retrieved 8 August 2026 . ↑ "जेपीएससी-जेएससीसी परीक्षा विवाद को लेकर हेमंत सरकार से बातचीत करेंगे छात्र" . Navbharat Times . 7 August 2026 . Retrieved 7 August 2026 . ↑ Srivastava, Subhadra (6 August 2026). " 'We are with students': Kharge's first reaction on Jharkhand student protests" . The Times of India . 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