Archive · 10 Aug 2026
ED probes JPSC exam irregularities amid 17-day protests in Ranchi
Students in Jharkhand, a state in India, are upset about how some big exams were run.
They say something went wrong with the exams and that it was not fair.
To show how upset they are, they have been protesting for 17 days.
Some of them stopped eating food, which is called a hunger strike.
A team of grown-up investigators called the Enforcement Directorate is now looking into the problem.
They want to know if any money was used to do something wrong.
Some people have been arrested and are being questioned.
On Monday, thousands of students walked together to the state assembly building, and a leader named Devendra Nath Mahto joined them.
He asked everyone to stay calm and not use violence, and many police officers were sent to keep everyone safe.
Most schools in Ranchi stayed closed.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a money-laundering case on Monday, August 8, to probe alleged irregularities in Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations.
Protests and an indefinite hunger strike in Ranchi over the alleged irregularities entered their 17th day on Monday.
Thousands of students and job aspirants marched to the Jharkhand assembly on Monday.
Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto, on a nine-day hunger strike, joined the march and urged protesters to avoid violence.
Authorities imposed prohibitory orders and deployed more than 1,500 personnel, including Rapid Action Force and Indian Reserve Battalion, along the four-km march route, while most schools in Ranchi remained closed.
- Who
- The Enforcement Directorate (ED), acting on a Jharkhand Police FIR, filed the case; JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto joined thousands of protesting students and job aspirants.
- What
- The ED opened a money-laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations as protests and a hunger strike continued in Ranchi.
- When
- Monday, August 8, the 17th day of the protests.
- Where
- Ranchi, Jharkhand, where students marched to the state assembly.
- Why
- Students and job aspirants are demanding action over alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations; Mahto accused the state government of ignoring students' demands.
Students and Protesters
State Government and Authorities
JPSC exam irregularities
Students and Protesters
Students and job aspirants allege irregularities in JPSC examinations and are demanding action through protests and an indefinite hunger strike.
State Government and Authorities
JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto says the state government has ignored students' demands, while the ED has now stepped in with a money-laundering case based on the Jharkhand Police's FIR.
Conduct of protests
Students and Protesters
Mahto urged protesters to avoid violence, referencing the violence that occurred on July 20 during the Cockroach Janta Party's march to Parliament over the NEET paper leak.
State Government and Authorities
Authorities imposed prohibitory orders and deployed more than 1,500 personnel, including Rapid Action Force and Indian Reserve Battalion, along the march route.
- Investigating agency
- Enforcement Directorate (ED)
- Legal basis
- Case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
- Subject of probe
- Alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations
- Protest day
- 17th day of protests and indefinite hunger strike
- Protest location
- Ranchi
- Mahto's hunger strike
- 9 days
- Security deployed
- More than 1,500 personnel, including Rapid Action Force, Indian Reserve Battalion, police, and Quick Reaction Team
- March route
- Four-km stretch to the Jharkhand assembly