The student agitation over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations entered its 17th day on Monday, with thousands of aspirants marching towards the State Assembly demanding reforms and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into paper leaks.
Students from several districts arrived in Ranchi early in the morning by trains, buses, and private vehicles to join the demonstration. Carrying the national flag and flowers, they described the march as peaceful but determined. “We want the government to listen to our concerns and respond,” said one of the protesters.
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The protest follows multiple rounds of talks between student representatives and a government‑appointed panel that failed to yield results. The sixth round, held on Sunday, ended without agreement as the students insisted on a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examinations.
The state government claimed it had accepted “98 per cent” of the students’ demands and urged them to withdraw the agitation. Protest leaders, however, argued that only three of the 13 contested examinations had been scrapped and maintained their call for an independent probe. Six protesters remain on hunger strike.
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Chief Minister Hemant Soren earlier assured that those responsible for the leaks would face strict action. The JPSC has seen major resignations in recent weeks, including its chairperson and three members, after the Criminal Investigation Department summoned them over alleged irregularities.
As the march began around 11 a.m., Ranchi’s administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita within a 750‑metre radius of the Assembly complex. Barricades and barbed‑wire fencing were set up at 12 key intersections, and around 2,000 police personnel, including Rapid Action Force units, riot‑control vehicles, and water cannons, were deployed to maintain order.
Most schools in Ranchi remained closed as a precaution. Police checkpoints were established along highways and district borders to restrict the inflow of protesters. Despite the heavy security, students managed to reach the Assembly area, chanting slogans and demanding transparency in recruitment.
“The administration is treating us unfairly. It took us five hours to reach here,” said one student. Another added, “If the government has nothing to hide, why is it afraid of a CBI inquiry?”
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The protest has drawn participants from diverse communities and backgrounds, united by frustration over repeated examination controversies. Many spent Sunday night at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium and nearby markets before joining the march.
Government officials have not indicated whether fresh talks will be held after the Assembly demonstration. The administration has directed security forces to exercise restraint, but the use of barbed‑wire barricades has sparked political criticism.
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The ongoing agitation reflects a deepening crisis of confidence in Jharkhand’s recruitment system. As the 17‑day protest reaches the Assembly gates, the outcome of the government’s response will determine whether the movement leads to reform or prolongs unrest across the state. 
