Jharkhand Youth Protest Over Civil Service Exam Irregularities

Hundreds of job seekers have been protesting in Ranchi, the capital of India’s Jharkhand state, since July 25, demanding cancellation and re-conduct of a preliminary civil service examination held in April. The protesters allege that answer sheets circulating on social media indicate irregularities in the results and are demanding a probe by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Some demonstrators have been sleeping at the protest site, while others have gone on hunger strike.

The allegations are being investigated by Jharkhand’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), while the Jharkhand Public Service Commission has postponed the next stage of the examination. Commission Chairman L. Khiangte resigned on July 22 and has reportedly been questioned as part of the investigation. Authorities are also examining the role of a private company involved in conducting parts of the examination process. Jharkhand minister Deepika Pandey Singh said anyone found responsible would face action, regardless of their position.

Protesters say their demands extend beyond the disputed examination and include a wider investigation into alleged recruitment irregularities, timely completion of hiring processes and transparent examinations. The agitation comes amid growing youth frustration in India over examination delays, paper leaks and limited government employment opportunities. The movement has also received support from the Cockroach Janta Party, which was associated with recent youth protests in Delhi over examination-related grievances.