Jharkhand student leader starts hunger strike over exam

A student leader in Jharkhand has escalated a month-long protest over alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations by launching an indefinite hunger strike. Devendra Nath Mahato began his fast on Sunday, August -2, at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, where aspirants have been staging a sit-in since July 29. The protest demands the cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination and an independent investigation by central agencies.

The controversy erupted after the results for the preliminary exam, held on April 19, were declared on July 2. Candidates and opposition parties raised procedural concerns, including the absence of published category-wise cutoff marks and signatures of constitutional members on the merit list. These issues fueled broader distrust in a recruitment system with a history of controversies. Protesters allege irregularities not only in this JPSC exam but also in tests conducted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission.

In response to the growing agitation, the state government directed the Criminal Investigation Department to probe the allegations. The CID has conducted...