Students in Jharkhand protesting alleged irregularities in government recruitment exams plan to march to the state Assembly on Monday after negotiations with the Hemant Soren administration ended without agreement on Sunday. Each side accused the other of lacking seriousness in addressing the matter. The impasse focuses on the students’ call for a CBI investigation into exam irregularities and cancellation of a Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission test, demands the government has turned down. The march will proceed despite requests from the chief minister and governor to resume talks. Security has been increased in Ranchi ahead of the event. A student leader stated that after three rounds of discussions the government had not met all demands and confirmed the march from the old Assembly building to the new one would remain peaceful, with support from participants across districts. Key demands include cancelling the JSSC Combined Graduate Level exam, ordering a CBI probe, adopting proposed exam reforms and following a suggested recruitment schedule. Failure to meet any demand would lead to continued protests. Leaders urged participants to stay united and orderly, avoid traffic disruption or public inconvenience, refrain from clashing with police and verify information to prevent rumours. A hunger striker on his eighth day called Monday a decisive day for Jharkhand and appealed for broad participation while stressing the need for peaceful, lawful action despite restrictions. He noted the movement had received a largely positive response but required full reforms. The government maintained it had accepted most demands and urged an end to the agitation, noting it had agreed to cancel one exam and proposed an Enforcement Directorate inquiry into financial issues along with a fast-track court process and an expert panel for reforms. Students rejected claims that 98 percent of demands were met, stating only three of 13 requested cancellations were approved. The protest in Ranchi reached its 17th day with six students on indefinite hunger strike.
