Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Why India’s Young Are Angry and Losing Patience
Students in Ranchi were unhappy about exams used to select government workers.
They said the exams had serious irregularities.
They protested for 24 days and refused to stop.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren agreed to most of their demands.
Police arrested former exam commission chairman L Khiangte and 20 other people.
The government faced a difficult choice because some people who passed the exams already had jobs.
The students still wanted the exams cancelled or set aside.
On Monday night, the government agreed to that final demand.
Students in Ranchi protested for 24 days over alleged exam irregularities.
The disputed exams were conducted by the JPSC and JSSC.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren accepted most of the students’ demands.
Police arrested former JPSC chairman L Khiangte and 20 others.
The government eventually agreed to cancel or nullify the exams, despite some successful candidates already holding jobs.
- Who
- Students in Ranchi, the Jharkhand government, the JPSC and JSSC, and people arrested in connection with the controversy.
- What
- Students protested alleged irregularities in public-service and staff-selection exams and demanded that the exams be set aside.
- When
- The protest lasted 24 days, and the government conceded the final demand on Monday night.
- Where
- Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
- Why
- Students alleged irregularities in exams conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission.
Students’ Position
Government’s Dilemma
Validity of the exams
Students’ Position
Students alleged irregularities and demanded that the exams be set aside.
Government’s Dilemma
The government had to consider that some candidates who passed the exams were already working in jobs.
Response to the protest
Students’ Position
Students remained determined and continued protesting for 24 days despite earlier concessions.
Government’s Dilemma
Chief Minister Hemant Soren accepted most demands, and the government eventually conceded the final demand.
- Protest location
- Ranchi, Jharkhand
- Protest duration
- 24 days
- Institutions involved
- Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission
- Chief minister
- Hemant Soren
- Arrests
- Former JPSC chairman L Khiangte and 20 others were arrested
- Government decision
- The government agreed to the students’ demand concerning the exams on Monday night
- Complication
- Some exam successful candidates had already entered government jobs