Awaiting answers: On the student protests in Jharkhand

When the route up the economic ladder in society is limited to an ever-narrowing range of options in the public sector, and the process of gaining entry through entrance examinations becomes tainted, angst and agitation are the results. This is why students in Jharkhand, loosely organised into two platforms — the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC)-Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Abhyarthi Nyay Manch and the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch — have been protesting in Ranchi for over three weeks. The trigger was the July 2 result of the JPSC’s 14th Combined Civil Services preliminary examination, which shortlisted 2,204 candidates from about 3.5 lakh aspirants for 103 posts. Aspirants pointed to undisclosed category-wise cut-offs, oddities in the merit list, a widely circulated OMR sheet on which an ostensibly successful candidate had attempted fewer than half the questions, and the fact that the conducting agency had been blacklisted in May 2025. The two platforms differ in their political leanings and have sought to negotiate separately with the government, but both want the cancellation of the disputed JPSC and JSSC exams, a CBI investigation and prosecution of officials, besides the reconstitution of commissions and a predictable examination calendar. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led coalition government has responded with CID raids, arrests, resignations in the JPSC, and a cabinet committee. On Monday it went further, announcing the cancellation of all examinations conducted since 2014 by the outsourced agency, TSR Data Processing, which might help assuage the agitating students but could leave those who cleared the examinations fairly in the lurch.