Hundreds of job seekers have been protesting in Ranchi, capital of India’s eastern Jharkhand state, since 25 July, demanding an overhaul of the government examination system and an investigation into alleged irregularities in a civil service recruitment test.
Some protesters have been sleeping in the open, while several have gone on hunger strike, reports BBC. Umme Habiba, 27, who has taken the state civil service examination three times, said: “We want justice. We will not leave until we get it, even if it costs us our lives.”
The immediate trigger was a preliminary civil service examination held in April. After results were published in July, candidates alleged that leaked answer sheets circulating on social media suggested some successful applicants had answered far fewer questions than expected.
Protesters suspect the results were manipulated and want the examination cancelled and held again. They are also demanding an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Jharkhand’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is already probing the allegations, while the Jharkhand Public Service Commission has postponed the next stage of the examination. Its chairman, L Khiangte, resigned on 22 July and has been questioned.
Investigators are also examining the role of a private company involved in conducting parts of the examination. State minister Deepika Pandey Singh urged protesters to allow the CID investigation to continue rather than transfer the case to the CBI.
“We want a fair investigation,” she said, adding that anyone responsible — “whether a bureaucrat, employee, middleman or a big politician” — would face action.
Protesters say the movement is about more than one examination. They want wider investigations into recruitment irregularities, timely hiring and regular, transparent examinations.
For Savita Kumari, 28, the wait for a government job began in 2019. After believing she had cleared this year’s preliminary stage, she found her name missing from the results. “We cried the whole night,” she said.
The agitation follows major youth demonstrations in Delhi over examination paper leaks. The Cockroach Janta Party, the independent youth movement behind those protests, has announced support for the Jharkhand campaign.
Unlike the Delhi protests, however, the Ranchi movement has attracted significant political backing. The opposition BJP has supported the protesters and demanded a federal investigation, while Congress, a partner in the Jharkhand government, has also expressed support.
Many protesters insist political parties should not take control of the movement. “Students will lead this movement,” said Vikram Kumar.
“They will be on the stage and in front.” Politicians could offer support, he said, but should “leave their party’s flag and agenda at home”. The government has offered talks, and protesters have formed an 11-member delegation, although no formal meeting had taken place by Friday.
