Jharkhand’s JPSC-JSSC exam row has escalated, with a PIL filed in the Supreme Court and fresh student protests in Ranchi. Five ABVP workers were detained during a march towards Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence as the government held talks with multiple student groups.
Ranchi: The ongoing student agitation in Jharkhand escalated on Saturday as protesters marched towards Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence in Ranchi, while a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court over issues surrounding the JPSC examination row.
The latest protest was organised by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), who marched from the State House towards Soren’s residence. Police stopped the protesters near Ranchi University Road along Morabadi Road and detained five ABVP workers during the intervention.
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The protesters said they had been staging a sit-in at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium for around 15 days and alleged that their demands had not been adequately addressed. They said the march was organised to renew pressure on the state government.
JPSC-JSSC protest continues
The broader agitation has been taking place under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch. The protest began on July 25 at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi and has since developed into a major student-led mobilisation over examination and recruitment-related concerns.
The movement involves demands concerning the functioning and examination processes of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
The dispute has now expanded beyond street protests, with a PIL bringing the issue before the Supreme Court.
Government holds talks with student groups
Amid the continuing protests, the Jharkhand government held separate meetings with representatives of different student organisations on Saturday.
The Devendra Nath Mahto-led JLKM faction, JCM and NSUI held separate meetings with government representatives. The Adivasi Chhatra Sangh was also expected to meet officials later in the evening.
Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu, along with ministers Dipika Pandey Singh, Chamra Linda and Sanjay Prasad Yadav, represented the Hemant Soren government during the discussions at the State Guest House in Ranchi.
The meetings were aimed at hearing the concerns of the different student groups and exploring possible solutions.
However, no breakthrough had been reported and protests continued.
Fresh pressure on Hemant Soren government
Saturday’s march adds to mounting pressure on the Jharkhand government to respond to the students’ demands.
The government has been engaging with different groups separately, but the continuation of protests suggests that discussions have yet to produce an outcome acceptable to the protesters.
With the issue now reaching the Supreme Court, the examination and recruitment dispute has moved into both the political and judicial spotlight.
What happens next
The immediate focus is likely to remain on the government’s talks with student organisations and the proceedings related to the PIL filed in the Supreme Court.
For the protesters, the central demand remains action on the examination and recruitment-related concerns involving JPSC and JSSC.
For the state government, the challenge is to find a resolution that can address the concerns of the different student groups while bringing the prolonged agitation to an end.
Published: 08 Aug 2026, 04:07 pm IST
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