Jharkhand students protest LIVE: Protestors reach State Assembly premises; police use tear gas, water cannons

Jharkhand CID arrests ex-JPSC chairperson over irregularities in recruitment exams; Mr. Khiangte had been questioned four times since July 28

Updated - August 10, 2026 05:59 pm IST

Police resorted to lathicharge on the job aspirants protesting exam irregularities as they attempt to breach barricades near Jharkhand assembly on Monday, August 10, 2026. | Photo Credit: Suruchi Kumari

Police used water cannons, lobbed tear gas shells, and lathi-charged job aspirants as they breached barricades and attempted to reach the State Assembly, protesting the recruitment exam irregularities. Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days in protest against exam irregularities, also joined the march, despite losing 10.5 kg. He was seen carrying a portrait of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

Also read: For Jharkhand’s Adivasi youth, competitive exams are about finding a voice in the system that governs them

The Jharkhand government on Sunday (August 9, 2026) agreed to cancel the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) preliminary examination and the JPSC backlog examinations held in 2023 and 2025 following six hours of discussions with protesting student groups. However, the students remained firm on their demand for a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the JSSC-CGL examination and said the agitation would continue. The announcement came even as all three JPSC members resigned and Chief Minister Hemant Soren assured protesters that “justice will be delivered with full transparency”.

Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) and JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, said they want cancellation of JSSC-CGL and all exams connected to the TSR Data Processing Private Limited Agency, a blacklisted entity.

Latest visuals from Ranchi showed police urging protesters to return home

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on Monday (August 10, 2026) that the government is ready for a full-fledged discussion in Lok Sabha on the student protests and police action across the country and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reply to the debate, provided the Opposition promises not to disrupt and listens peacefully.

Mr. Rijiju’s announcement came shortly after a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Lok Sabha where the agenda of the House for the next three days was discussed with members from different political parties.

Mr. Rijiju’s remarks assume significance as job aspirants in Jharkhand faced police action during their march towards the Assembly. - PTI

On the ongoing students’ protests in Jharkhand, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivediaccused the Congress and Rahul Gandhi of adopting a “double standard” on students’ issues.

“They are struggling in a restrained manner. They are struggling in a disciplined manner. There is no abusive language, there is no foul language being used there. Nor are they being provided high-quality food ordered from unknown sources from places such as Swiggy and Zomato. Nor is there a picnic-like atmosphere there,” he said.

The BJP leader stressed that the issue is not limited to alleged paper leaks but concerns jobs and alleged irregularities in recruitment.

He questioned Mr. Gandhi’s silence on the protests in Ranchi, contrasting it with his earlier interventions in student agitations in other parts of the country.

“Rahul Gandhi cannot hear the voice of the students of Ranchi. Those who used to roar and shout from Kota to Prayagraj are not even seen making a noise in Ranchi. This shows that their objective is not to speak for the interests of students but to fulfil their political interests,” Mr. Trivedi said. - PTI

Amid the ongoing protests by JPSC and JSSC aspirants in Ranchi, Jharkhand Minister Deepika Pandey Singh stated that while the government respects the democratic right to protest, it must operate within the constitutional framework regarding the cancellation of examinations.

Addressing the situation, Minister Deepika Pandey Singh emphasised that the administration has been instructed to maintain law and order without the use of force.

“In a democracy, there is permission for protests; people are free to hold them. The administration is taking the necessary actions to maintain law and order. There will be no use of pellet guns, tear gas, or lathi-charge here,” she told reporters.

Responding to allegations of a communication gap between the State government and the protesting students, the Minister clarified that dialogue has been consistent over the past several days.