Dozens of students and job aspirants have been protesting since July 25, 2026, at a stadium in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, demanding an overhaul of the state's government examination system. Some protesters have been sleeping outdoors and several have undertaken hunger strikes.

The movement follows weeks after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests in Delhi, which addressed examination paper leaks. The CJP, an independent youth movement behind those demonstrations, has announced its support for the Jharkhand protests.

A 27-year-old protester from a farming family in Bokaro, who has spent years preparing for Jharkhand's civil service examination seeking job security, stated, "We want justice. We will not leave until we get it, even if it costs us our lives."

Deepika Pandey Singh, a minister in the Jharkhand government, told the BBC that investigations into the allegations had begun even before the current protests. Officials noted that since Jharkhand's creation in 2000, the civil service examination has been advertised only three times despite hundreds of vacant posts.

Many protesters emphasize that the movement remains independent and are cautious about political parties claiming it. While politicians are welcome to support the cause, protesters insist the movement is theirs.

Sources