Jharkhand to Hold Sixth Round of Talks With Student Protesters on August 9

The Jharkhand government has scheduled a sixth round of talks with student protesters for noon on Sunday, August 9, 2026, following a series of negotiations that have yet to resolve a deadlock over alleged irregularities in state recruitment exams. The decision was made after a four-hour meeting between a government panel and Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday evening.

The protests, which began on July 25, entered their 16th day on Sunday. The agitation is centered on demands for the cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination and an independent investigation into alleged irregularities, either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state. Protesters also seek comprehensive reforms in the JPSC and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) to ensure transparent recruitment.

Despite five rounds of talks with different student groups since Friday night, the deadlock persists. The government first met with a faction led by Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Nath Mahto, whose hunger strike entered its seventh day. Subsequent meetings were held with...