Students, protesting against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations, on Saturday (August 15, 2026), accused the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress of playing politics over their issues and announced that they would gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence in Ranchi on August 20, demanding his resignation.

The protesters also said that they would burn effigies of the Chief Minister and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi across all 24 districts of the State on Sunday (August 16, 2026), alleging that the ruling JMM-Congress alliance “failed to take concrete action” on their demands.

They also demanded that Mr. Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the “CM is not listening” to him.

They took out a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Ranchi on Saturday (August 15, 2026) to mark the country’s 80th Independence Day and to press their demand for greater transparency and reforms in the recruitment examination system.

The protest under JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch entered its 22nd day, with thousands of students and job aspirants, including two wheelchair-borne demonstrators who were on fast, participating in the ‘Tiranga Yatra’ from Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, the site of the ongoing agitation, to Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi. Carrying the national flags, the protesters raised slogans such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”.

“We will gherao the Chief Minister’s residence on August 20. We seek his resignation as both the JMM and the Congress are playing politics with us. We also demand that Rahul Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the CM is not listening to him,” JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said.

The protesters said they would not withdraw the demonstration until the government addresses their demands, including the cancellation of examinations in which alleged irregularities were found and an independent probe into the recruitment process.

The platform of the protesting students has sought a CBI investigation or an inquiry by a panel of retired judges from outside Jharkhand into the alleged exam irregularities. The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch has also demanded cancellation of the JSSC-CGL test and certain Jharkhand PSC examinations that it considers suspicious.

The protesters appealed to students across Jharkhand to assemble in Ranchi for the proposed gherao of the CM’s residence on August 20 and said they would not withdraw agitation until their demands are met.

They also targeted Mr. Gandhi, saying he had expressed support for students but that “no concrete action” had followed.

The students’ platform demanded that Congress withdraw support from the JMM-led government if it is unwilling to act on their concerns.

“We demanded CM Hemant Soren’s resignation as the government failed to cancel JSSC-CGL and the JPSC examinations in which irregularities were found,” the student leader said.

Thousands of students and job aspirants from across Jharkhand marched towards the State Assembly in Ranchi on Monday (August 10, 2026), breaking through several barbed barricades and reaching the Assembly gates as their indefinite strike over alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations entered its 17th day.

At least five protesters were injured, including one who suffered a head injury, after the police resorted to baton-charge and dispersed the crowd.

Also read: Jharkhand students protest updates on August 10, 2026

At present, the protesters are continuing their sit-in at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in the capital, seeking resolution of their demands.

The protesters are demanding cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination and a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the recruitment process. The march came a day after the Jharkhand government agreed to cancel three examinations, including the preliminary examination of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission Combined Civil Services.

As the protest continued, former JPSC chairman L. Khiangte was arrested in connection with the investigation. Mr. Khiangte, a former Chief Secretary, resigned as JPSC chairman on July 22 after the State CID took over the probe. The Enforcement Directorate has also begun investigating the alleged irregularities in multiple recruitment examinations, including JSSC-CGL, after taking cognisance of a State CID FIR and other complaints under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The protest, which began around 10.30 a.m. near the old Assembly complex in Dhurwa, was largely peaceful initially. Carrying the Tricolour, placards and portraits of Bhagat Singh, Ambedkar, former Chief Minister Shibu Soren, and activist Nirmal Mahato, they walked towards the Assembly, chanting slogans against the government and demanding action. Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahato, who has been on a hunger strike for several days, was brought to the site on a stretcher. He followed the march in an ambulance for a brief while.

Tension arose after noon as protesters broke through barricades approached the new Assembly building, where the monsoon session was under way. The police then used water cannons, fired tear gas and resorted to baton-charge to disperse the crowd. Protesters retaliated by throwing bottles, slippers and shoes at the police. Several students also appeared unwell and some collapsed amid the intense heat.

Despite the police action, the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch and JLKM leaders said their protest will not end till their demands are met. The agitation continued into the night, with protesters holding a sit-in near the Assembly complex. The police again used batons to disperse them and began chasing protesters out of the area, according to volunteer Sudhir Mahto.

A large number of security personnel from the Jharkhand Police, Jharkhand Jaguar, the Rapid Action Force and district forces, along with riot-control vehicles, were deployed in the area.

City Deputy Superintendent of Police Ajay Aryan denied that the police had resorted to a “deliberate lathi-charge”. “No force was used but the police had to push back to control the crowd and ensure that no one is injured. We won’t call it lathi-charge,” he said.

Mr. Aryan said police personnel had been given strict instructions not to use force. He said tear gas was fired from the side to minimise its impact.

Ranchi Superintendent of Police Paras Rana said the police action came after the protesters pushed the barricades. “Two constables sustained head injuries and required sutures,” he said.

Despite the clashes, protesters described the march a success and said they would continue their agitation until their demands are met.

Hundreds of students continued their protest for the fifth consecutive day in Ranchi on Sunday (August 2, 2026) over alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC examination, JSSC-CGL and other recruitment tests, demanding a CBI probe and reforms in the recruitment agencies.

The protesters, who have been holding an indefinite sit-in at a stadium since July 29, raised slogans such as ‘Order CBI probe in JPSC’, ‘Long live Students Unity’ and ‘Shame on Hemant Soren’.

“Paper leaks in JPSC have happened several times. This time, OMR sheets of candidates have been leaked. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has ordered a CID probe, but we are not satisfied,” JPSC aspirant Rahul Kumar Kranti said.

He alleged that previous probes into the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC)-CGL paper leak had not led to action and claimed that the latest investigation could also be “covered up” after a few months.

“We have completely lost faith in the ongoing CID probe. We demand a CBI probe into all recruitment examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC over the past seven years. We also demand the chief minister’s resignation on moral grounds,” Mr. Kranti said.

The protesters are demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC Combined Preliminary Test held on April 19 and an independent probe by central agencies, including the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED), into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC.

They are also demanding the introduction of a fifth option of “not attempted” in OMR sheets.

“The careers of thousands of students and aspirants are at stake due to corruption in both agencies. Most of us come from farmers’ families. We only want fair opportunities based on merit,” said Ankit Kumar from Giridih district.

Sneha, a tribal student from Ranchi, said protesters wanted strict punishment for those involved in alleged irregularities and cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination.

“I have been preparing for competitive examinations since 2023. But if an equal and fair chance is not given, how can I get a job? I urge CM Soren to listen to our demands,” she said.

Archana Kumari from Palamu said the protesters would continue their agitation until the government addressed their demands and fixed accountability for the alleged irregularities.

“The State government is still in a sleeping mode. We are getting support from across the country. People from various cities are sending food items to the protest site. We are thankful to those helping us continue our protest,” said Shyam Bihari Gupta, a student from Balumath in Latehar district.

Meanwhile, thousands of students held a torchlight procession in the state capital this evening.

The students, who are holding an indefinite sit-in at the Jaipal Singh Munda stadium, marched to Albert Ekka Chowk. There, they raised slogans against the JMM-led alliance government and demanded an impartial probe into the alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC, JSCC-CGL and other state-level public recruitment tests.

They said if the state government does not address their concerns, they will march to the Jharkhand Assembly and stage a gherao in the next couple of days.

“We have been holding protests, but no government officials approached us to listen to our concerns on these issues. This clearly shows the insensitivity of this JMM-led alliance government towards the thousands of students and youths of the state,” they alleged.