Jharkhand student protest hits 13th day, threatens assembly

A student-led protest over alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations entered its 13th day in Ranchi on Thursday, August 6, 2026, as demonstrators announced plans to lay siege to the Jharkhand Assembly next week if their demands are not met. The ongoing sit-in at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium has intensified, drawing wider support from student groups and placing significant pressure on the state government amid the opening of the legislative Monsoon Session.

The protests, led by job aspirants, center on allegations of paper leaks and corruption in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission. The agitation began after the results of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination were declared on July 5, with demonstrators establishing a continuous presence at the stadium since July 25. Their core demands include the cancellation of that preliminary test, a comprehensive review of exams conducted by certain third-party agencies, and an independent investigation by central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.

In response to the escalating protest, which...