Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Delays and paper leaks behind Jharkhand protest hunger strike
Many people in Jharkhand, a state in India, study very hard for exams that could give them government jobs.
Some of them say the exams have problems, like answer papers being leaked and results taking years.
Because the process is so slow, some people become too old to qualify for the jobs they worked for.
Six people decided to stop eating, which is called a hunger strike, to ask for change.
Thousands of other students came to a stadium in Ranchi to support them.
The protesters want two big exams, the 14th JPSC and the JSSC-CGL, to be cancelled.
One man waited so long that he lost his chance even after scoring higher than many selected candidates.
During one fitness test, 11 candidates died while running.
The government and the exam commissions sometimes disagree with what the protesters say.
The strikers hope their protest will make the system fairer.
Six job aspirants in Jharkhand have been on an indefinite hunger strike for about seven days over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations.
Thousands of students and aspirants gathered at Ranchi's Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium demanding the cancellation of the 14th JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations.
Protester Rahul Kranti said delays pushed him past the age limit; the high court ruled in February in favour of 264 petitioners seeking age relaxation.
Rupesh Kumar Pal alleged his 2024 JSSC CGL result was not declared despite an 83% score; the commission initially denied leaks, and the court declined to transfer the case to the CBI.
In the JECCE 2023 Excise Constable recruitment, 11 candidates died during running tests in August 2024 and the written exam was held only in April 2026.
- Who
- Six hunger-striking job aspirants (including Rahul Kranti, Unne Habiba, Rupesh Kumar Pal and Savita Kumari), supported by thousands of students and job aspirants in Ranchi
- What
- An indefinite hunger strike and mass protest against alleged exam irregularities, paper leaks and recruitment delays, demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations
- When
- The hunger strike had been going on for about seven days at the time of reporting; related recruitment processes and court cases have dragged on for years
- Where
- Ranchi, Jharkhand, India, centred on the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium
- Why
- Candidates say years of delays pushed them past age eligibility limits, while alleged paper leaks and withheld results wasted their efforts to secure government jobs
Job Aspirants and Protesters
Jharkhand Government and Commissions
Exam irregularities and leaks
Job Aspirants and Protesters
The JPSC and JSSC recruitment exams were marred by leaks, scams and corruption, including the allegedly leaked 2024 JSSC CGL paper, so the 14th JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations should be cancelled.
Jharkhand Government and Commissions
The commission initially denied the paper leak allegation, and the high court dismissed the demand to hand the case over to the CBI.
Handling of the investigation
Job Aspirants and Protesters
The first CID team found evidence supporting the leak allegations, but the government rejected those findings and constituted another team whose conclusions differed from the first's.
Jharkhand Government and Commissions
The government rejected the first investigation team's findings and set up a new team to look into the matter, with the case still pending before the high court.
Court-ordered appointments
Job Aspirants and Protesters
In November 2025 the Jharkhand High Court ordered the government to appoint remaining TGT candidates within six months, but the state challenged the order and appointments still have not been made.
Jharkhand Government and Commissions
The state government challenged the court's order before a division bench, and a contempt petition filed by candidates in June remains pending.
- Hunger strikers
- 6 protesters
- Protest duration
- About 7 days
- Protest location
- Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, Ranchi
- Key demand
- Cancel the 14th JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations
- Age relaxation ruling
- Court ruled in favour of 264 petitioners in February
- Assistant Acharya recruitment
- 26,001 advertised vacancies; around 11,500 appointment letters issued
- JECCE 2023 physical test
- 11 candidates died during running tests in August 2024; written exam held in April 2026
- 2024 JSSC CGL posts
- Grew from about 800 to more than 2,000 posts; around 1,800 candidates appointed