For Jharkhand’s Adivasi youth, competitive exams are about finding a voice in the system that governs them
Adivasi youth in Jharkhand are protesting against irregularities in state recruitment examinations, which they view as their primary path to economic stability. Many aspirants, like Sarita Munda, face significant financial hardship while preparing for these exams, leading to widespread frustration with the current system.
Why it matters
The struggle for government jobs highlights deep-seated socio-economic disparities and the lack of private sector opportunities for marginalized communities in India.
For 26-year-old Sarita Munda, the struggle to get a government job has stretched across years, exam cycles and disappointments.
She came to Ranchi from a village near Latehar with a familiar plan among young Adivasi youth in many parts of Jharkhand: study, prepare for the State recruitment examinations, find a government job and build a life that guarantees a place in the system that governs them, visibility and ways of income other than agricultural work or daily wage labour.
But preparation costs money. Ms. Sarita has been doing domestic work in Ranchi to support herself while studying. Her brother and sister have also spent years preparing for the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examinations.
Jharkhand student protests: Follow LIVE updates on August 9, 2026
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