JPSC paper leak denied: Jharkhand Minister Irfan Ansari backs dialogue as protest hits Day 13
Synopsis
Thirteen days in, Jharkhand's student protest over JPSC and JSSC recruitment irregularities shows no sign of fading — not even overnight rain could clear the stadium. With a hunger strike under way and solidarity groups piling in, Minister Irfan Ansari's 'no paper leak, talk it out' line is being tested by a movement that is quickly outgrowing its original grievance.
Key Takeaways
Jharkhand Minister Irfan Ansari denied any paper leak in JPSC or JSSC examinations on 6 August .
Student protests at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, Ranchi entered their 13th day , with multiple student organisations joining in solidarity.
Student leader Devendra Mahto continued an indefinite hunger strike at the protest site.
Ansari warned that cancelling the JPSC exam would trigger counter-protests from candidates who have already qualified.
A student delegation secured a meeting with Jharkhand government representatives on Thursday; outcome is awaited.
Jharkhand Health and Medical Education Minister Irfan Ansari on Thursday, 6 August flatly denied any paper leak in the state's recruitment examinations, asserting that grievances of agitating students could be settled through dialogue. His remarks came as the student protest against alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examinations entered its 13th consecutive day in Ranchi.
Minister's Position on the Controversy
'I want to say again that there has been no paper leak in Jharkhand. This is not Uttar Pradesh, not Bihar, and not Gujarat. This is Jharkhand, and we are concerned about it,' Ansari told reporters. He further maintained that the state government had already acted wherever irregularities were detected, adding, 'Jharkhand is the only state which has taken action against the accused. Name one BJP-ruled state where action was taken? Our Chief Minister has shown generosity.'
Why Cancelling JPSC Is Not the Answer, Says Ansari
Responding to demands for outright cancellation of the JPSC examination, Ansari cautioned that such a move would trigger fresh unrest among candidates who had already qualified. 'People are saying that JPSC should be cancelled. However, if it happens, then the students who have qualified for JPSC will also sit in protest tomorrow, demanding that the examination paper should not be cancelled. There are some mistakes, and we can correct them. Every problem can be resolved through discussion,' he said.
Protest Gains Momentum at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium
The demonstration, centred at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, has drawn growing solidarity from multiple student organisations across the state. Representatives of several groups arrived at the venue on Thursday morning to stand with the agitating aspirants. Notably, protesters refused to disperse even amid continuous overnight rainfall, signalling the depth of their resolve.
Student leader Devendra Mahto continued his indefinite hunger strike at the site, while fellow demonstrators maintained their overnight vigil despite adverse weather conditions. This is the second major recruitment examination controversy in Jharkhand in recent years, and the sustained turnout suggests the movement has moved well beyond a narrow JPSC grievance to a broader demand for systemic reform in state-level hiring.
Dialogue Appointment and What Comes Next
A student delegation was granted an appointment for talks with representatives of the Jharkhand government on Thursday. The outcome of that meeting is being closely watched by aspirants, who hope it will pave the way for a concrete resolution. The government's willingness to engage is a positive signal, but protesters have made clear they will remain at the stadium until their demands are formally addressed.
Point of View
Not a rebuttal. More telling is his own admission that 'some mistakes' occurred: that concession, buried inside a defence of the status quo, is precisely what the protesters are amplifying. If the government enters Thursday's talks without a concrete remedial framework — independent oversight, a credible re-examination roadmap, or at minimum a time-bound inquiry — the dialogue risks becoming another stalling tactic, and the stadium will stay full.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the JPSC paper leak controversy in Jharkhand?
Protesters allege irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). Students have been demonstrating at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi for 13 days, demanding reforms in the recruitment process and, in some cases, cancellation of the examinations.
What did Minister Irfan Ansari say about the paper leak allegations?
Ansari flatly denied any paper leak, stating 'there has been no paper leak in Jharkhand' and contrasting the state with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Gujarat. He maintained that the government had already taken action wherever irregularities were detected.
Why is the government opposed to cancelling the JPSC exam?
Minister Ansari argued that cancelling the examination would harm candidates who have already qualified, potentially triggering a fresh wave of protests from that group. He instead advocated for correcting specific mistakes through dialogue.
Who is Devendra Mahto and what is his role in the protest?
Devendra Mahto is a student leader who is on an indefinite hunger strike at the protest site in Ranchi. He is among the prominent faces of the agitation demanding accountability and reform in Jharkhand's state recruitment process.
What happens next in the Jharkhand recruitment protest?
A student delegation met with Jharkhand government representatives on Thursday, 6 August. The outcome of that dialogue is being closely watched; protesters have stated they will continue their agitation until their demands are formally addressed by the government.
