Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Babulal Marandi Urges Jharkhand Government to Address Students' JPSC-JSSC Demands
Students in Jharkhand want fair exams for government jobs.
They say there were problems with the recruitment exams held by two commissions.
So they have been protesting in Ranchi for more than three weeks.
A leader of the opposition has asked the government to listen to the students.
Some students have stopped eating to show how serious they are.
The student leaders say the government has not replied to them at all.
They are now planning to gather outside the Chief Minister's house.
They want the Chief Minister to step down from his job.
Another leader said the young protesters have been peaceful and calm.
Everyone hopes the government and students can talk and solve the problem together.
Opposition leader Babulal Marandi urged the Jharkhand government to hold talks with JPSC-JSSC aspirants without delay and address their demands.
Protesting students in Ranchi say the government has given no response during the 23-day agitation over alleged recruitment exam irregularities.
Students have announced plans to gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren's residence on August 20 and are demanding his resignation.
Student protester Prem Nayak is on the 13th day of a hunger strike and said fellow protester Devendra Nath Mahato was taken away and not allowed to return.
The protesters are demanding a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC.
- Who
- JPSC-JSSC aspirants and student leaders such as Prem Nayak and Ravindra Paswan, opposed to the Jharkhand government led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, with support from Opposition Leader Babulal Marandi and BJP MLA Naveen Jaiswal.
- What
- A prolonged, peaceful protest demanding action over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations, including a CBI probe.
- When
- Ongoing for 23 days as of the Sunday report, with a planned gherao of the Chief Minister's residence on August 20.
- Where
- Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
- Why
- Alleged irregularities in recruitment exams conducted by the JPSC and JSSC and the government's lack of response to students' demands.
Protesters
Critics of Escalation
Government response
Protesters
After 23 days of peaceful protest and a 13-day hunger strike, the government has given no response, leaving students with little choice but to escalate.
Critics of Escalation
Marandi says the government should not remain adamant on its stance and must hold talks with the students without any delay.
Protest methods
Protesters
Students plan to gherao the Chief Minister's residence and burn effigies on August 20 to force the government to heed their demands, with some suggesting jail bharo and shutting schools and colleges instead.
Critics of Escalation
BJP MLA Naveen Jaiswal says it is deeply saddening that students who protested in a very restrained manner are now compelled to announce a siege and effigy burning.
Political support
Protesters
Student leaders urge the Chief Minister to ignore those around him who mislead him and to decide in the interest of students, saying the entire student community will stand by him.
Critics of Escalation
Naveen Jaiswal says the Congress party is concerned only with remaining in power, not with the students.
- Opposition Leader
- Babulal Marandi
- Chief Minister
- Hemant Soren
- Protest Duration
- 23 days
- Hunger Strike
- 13 days (Prem Nayak)
- Planned Action
- Gherao of CM residence on August 20
- Demands
- Action against alleged JPSC/JSSC exam irregularities and a CBI probe
- Location
- Ranchi, Jharkhand