Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Jharkhand Job Candidates Protest Exam Cancellations, Demand Rollback
Thousands of people in Jharkhand protested because their government-job exams were cancelled or questioned.
About 2,700 candidates joined the protest in Ranchi.
Around 2,000 of them had passed a graduate-level recruitment exam.
The government cancelled 22 exams and ordered investigations into 23 others because of alleged cheating or other problems.
The candidates said they had passed fairly and should not lose their jobs.
They said only people proven to have cheated should face punishment.
Some candidates had already started working in government departments.
Some protesters have asked the Jharkhand High Court to review the government’s decision.
Around 2,700 recently recruited candidates protested outside the Jharkhand Secretariat in Ranchi.
The protesters opposed orders cancelling 22 recruitment exams and investigating 23 others over alleged irregularities.
About 2,000 demonstrators were recruited through the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level examination.
Candidates said they supported investigations but wanted action against tainted candidates rather than all successful applicants.
Some protesters approached the Jharkhand High Court, while government department operations were disrupted by the demonstration.
- Who
- Around 2,700 candidates who recently secured Jharkhand government jobs, including about 2,000 JSSC-CGL recruits.
- What
- They protested against orders cancelling 22 exams and ordering probes into 23 others over alleged irregularities.
- When
- On August 20, following protests the previous Wednesday and a 25-day student agitation.
- Where
- Outside the Jharkhand Secretariat in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
- Why
- They said they were selected fairly and should not lose their jobs because of alleged irregularities involving other candidates.
Protesting candidates
State government action
Whether all exams should be cancelled
Protesting candidates
Candidates said they cleared the examinations on merit and argued that the entire exams should not be cancelled because of alleged irregularities.
State government action
The government issued orders cancelling 22 exams and ordering probes into 23 others amid a student agitation over alleged irregularities.
Who should face consequences
Protesting candidates
The protesters said action should be taken against candidates proven to be tainted, rather than against successful candidates who were selected fairly.
State government action
The government’s cancellation and investigation orders addressed the exams as a whole, though the report does not provide a detailed government explanation beyond the alleged irregularities.
Impact of the orders
Protesting candidates
Candidates said some had already joined government departments and that cancelling the exams was costing them their jobs.
State government action
The demonstrations affected the functioning of several government departments, and protesters were previously reported to have entered the Secretariat despite a prohibitory order.
- Protesters
- Around 2,700 candidates
- JSSC-CGL recruits
- About 2,000 protesters
- Exams cancelled
- 22
- Exams investigated
- 23
- Legal action
- Some candidates filed petitions before the Jharkhand High Court
- Affected departments
- Finance, home, road transport, labour, and information and public relations
- Student protest ultimatum
- Two months for the state government to resolve alleged exam-irregularity issues