Jharkhand student protests intensify as hunger strike enters sixth day

Devendra Nath Mahto, a student leader on his sixth day of a hunger strike in Ranchi, has accused the JMM-led government of apathy toward widespread exam irregularities. As his health declines, the protest at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium continues to demand a CBI probe into compromised state recruitment examinations.

Editorial·August 7, 2026·reads: 234

Jharkhand student protests intensify as hunger strike enters sixth day

The protesters are demanding the cancellation of all JSSC CGL, JSSC JE, and PGT exams conducted since 2019, citing systemic corruption and paper leaks. Beyond the hunger strike, the JPSC JSSC Reform Manch has organized an 11-member delegation—consisting of students, a lawyer, and technical experts—to negotiate with the administration. Despite ongoing legislative sessions, student representatives report a lack of official communication, leaving them in a state of uncertainty as they await a formal dialogue with the government.

While political figures such as Rahul Gandhi have engaged with the protesters, student leaders emphasize that their platform remains strictly non-partisan. They reject the influence of political parties, focusing instead on transparency measures, such as the disclosure of category-wise cut-offs and OMR copies. Currently, 19 individuals have been arrested in connection with the examination irregularities, though students maintain that deeper structural changes are required to prevent future rigging.