Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Jharkhand, Students Hold Sixth Round of Talks Over Exam Irregularities
Students in the Indian state of Jharkhand are upset because they believe an important exam for government jobs was not fair.
They want the exam cancelled and an honest investigation to be done by the CBI or a retired judge.
The students have been protesting at a big stadium in the city of Ranchi for 16 days.
Six of the students have stopped eating to show how serious they are.
The government has already met with the students five times, but no solution has been found.
A new, sixth meeting is now taking place to try to solve the problem.
The students say the government is just trying to divide them instead of listening.
Some national leaders, like the Congress party's Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, support the students.
Other leaders from the BJP say the Congress is only using the students for politics.
The students say they will keep protesting, and plan to march to the state Assembly, until the government meets all their demands.
The sixth round of talks between the Jharkhand government and protesting students began on Sunday at a state guesthouse in Ranchi.
The protest at Ranchi's Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium has entered its 16th day, with six demonstrators on indefinite hunger strike.
Students are demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination, held on July 2, and an independent probe by the CBI or a panel led by a retired judge.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have backed the students, while BJP leader Sanjay Seth accused Gandhi of seeking political mileage.
The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch called the new round of talks 'political manoeuvring'; protesters plan a march to the Assembly on August 10 if their demands are not met.
- Who
- Students protesting alleged recruitment exam irregularities, represented by bodies including the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, AISA and NSUI, and the Jharkhand government led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi backing the students and BJP leader Sanjay Seth criticising them.
- What
- The sixth round of talks over demands that include cancelling the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination, ordering an independent probe and reforming JPSC and JSSC.
- When
- Sunday, August 9, as the protest entered its 16th day.
- Where
- State guesthouse in Ranchi; the ongoing protest is at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, Jharkhand.
- Why
- Students allege irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment exams and demand cancellation of compromised exams, an independent investigation and accountability for those responsible.
Protesting students and Congress
BJP and the state government
Congress backing of the students
Protesting students and Congress
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge says the interests of children are paramount and that Rahul Gandhi will go wherever students raise issues, including states where the Congress or an alliance partner is in power, so that 'things need to be set right'.
BJP and the state government
BJP leader and Union Minister Sanjay Seth says Gandhi is trying to take political mileage out of the issue and should direct the Congress to take immediate action in Jharkhand.
Investigation into exam irregularities
Protesting students and Congress
Students demand an independent probe by the CBI or a retired-judge-led panel, a public probe report and action against the guilty, along with cancellation of compromised exams.
BJP and the state government
Sanjay Seth says the Jharkhand government has 'patronised' the job scam and that nothing less than a CBI or ED enquiry is acceptable to the agitating students.
Government's handling of the talks
Protesting students and Congress
The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch calls the sixth round of talks 'political manoeuvring' aimed at dividing protesting students and diverting attention from their core demands.
BJP and the state government
The government says the discussions were positive and that it is considering the concerns raised by the protesters, and has opened an email ID for aspirants' suggestions on reforms.
- Talks round
- Sixth, held at a state guesthouse in Ranchi
- Protest duration
- 16 days as of August 9; protest began July 23
- Protest site
- Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, Ranchi
- Exam at issue
- 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination, held July 2
- Probe demanded
- CBI or panel led by a retired judge; BJP's Sanjay Seth says nothing less than a CBI or ED enquiry is acceptable
- Hunger strikers
- Six demonstrators, including Devendra Nath Mahto (fasting about a week); Rahul Krantim under ICU supervision
- Government panel
- Ministers Dipika Pandey Singh, Sudivya Kumar, Chamra Linda and Sanjay Prasad Yadav
- Arrests and questioning
- 19 arrested over JPSC exam irregularities; former panel chairperson L Khiangte questioned four times since July 28
Sources
Jharkhand Government And Students Began Their Sixth Round Of Talks Amid Ongoing Protest
Jharkhand Government, Students Hold Round 6 Talks, Mallikarjun Kharge Backs Protests
Jharkhand Govt Holds Fresh Talks With Students Over Exam Irregularities
