Students agitating in Ranchi against alleged irregularities, corruption, and paper leaks in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) pressed on into Day 11 on Tuesday, 4 August, with a clear ultimatum: meet their demands or face a gherao of the Jharkhand Assembly on 6 August.

Hunger Strike and Escalating Pressure

Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past three days at the protest site at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. Despite continuous rainfall and harsh weather conditions, protesters have held their ground, with local residents and social organisations stepping in to provide food and essential supplies.

The students' core demands include cancellation of the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination, a CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into alleged irregularities across recruitment tests — including the JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations — disclosure of OMR sheets, answer scripts, and category-wise cut-off marks, blacklisting of controversial examination agencies, and sweeping reforms in recruitment bodies. Agitators allege that repeated irregularities are jeopardising the futures of deserving candidates and eroding public trust in the entire recruitment system.

CID Raids Across Seven Districts

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is probing alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC examination, carried out simultaneous raids on Monday across multiple locations in Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Deoghar, Godda, Ramgarh, and Hazaribagh districts. Officials seized laptops, mobile phones, bank documents, carbon copies of candidates' OMR sheets, admit cards, and other documents, all of which are now undergoing forensic and technical examination.

The CID had previously raided the JPSC office and arrested several individuals connected to the examination process. Former JPSC Chairman and former Chief Secretary L. Kiyangte has reportedly been questioned multiple times in connection with the ongoing probe.

Government Response and High-Level Committee

The Jharkhand state government is reportedly preparing to constitute a high-level committee to review the students' grievances, with an announcement expected later on Tuesday. The government has stated its commitment to transparency and fairness in recruitment processes and has indicated that strict legal action will follow against anyone found guilty during investigations.

Opposition Mounts Attack

The opposition has sharpened its assault on the ruling dispensation. Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi has alleged that jobs were being 'sold' through the JPSC and JSSC recruitment processes. Marandi has demanded a CBI inquiry into the entire matter, the immediate removal of the Chairpersons, Secretaries, and Examination Controllers of both commissions, and the prompt arrest of those allegedly responsible for the irregularities.

This is not the first time Jharkhand's recruitment bodies have faced such scrutiny — allegations of paper leaks and irregularities have surfaced periodically over the past several years, pointing to what critics argue are systemic failures in the state's examination administration. With the Assembly gherao threat looming on 6 August and CID investigations accelerating, the coming days will be critical in determining whether the government can defuse the standoff.