Thousands of contestants take to the streets in a new wave of protests in India; understand

Approved in 1st place in CNU 2025 is denied tenure due to disagreement over training Thousands of protesters in the state of Jharkhand, in eastern India, are marching to the state legislative assembly to demand a federal investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment competitions for civil servants, the cancellation of the tests and a more transparent hiring process. Police even used water cannons against protesters on Monday (11/08), when they tried to break through security barriers on their way to the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. ??Do you have any reporting suggestions? Send to g1 The confrontation marked a significant escalation of tensions between authorities and protesters. The movement began on July 25, when protests began to occupy the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, in the state capital, Ranchi. In scenes similar to the protests led by students from the satirical student movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), or "Cockroach People's Party", which took over New Delhi last month to demand the cancellation of university selection tests, some protesters also began a hunger strike. Rahul Kranti, 40, a candidate for public office and one of at least six participants in the hunger strike, was transferred to the intensive care unit after his condition deteriorated. "The future of Jharkhand's youth will not be sold. I will remain on hunger strike, whether I am in the hospital or at the protest site," Kranti told DW. He promised to maintain the mobilization until the government cancels the Jharkhand State Public Service Commission (JPSC) exams, responsible for state administration exams, and orders a criminal investigation conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India's main federal investigative agency. After hours of negotiations on Sunday, the government agreed to suspend this year's disputed JPSC exam, and three members of the commission resigned. But protesters say these concessions do not meet their demands. These include canceling the JSSC-CGL, one of the main competitions for hiring state employees in Jharkhand, as well as carrying out a federal investigation into alleged irregularities across the state's public recruitment system. What triggered the protests in Jharkhand? At least six protesters are on hunger strike in Jharkhand ANI News/IMAGO via DW The trigger was the latest JPSC civil service exam, which offered only 103 government vacancies. More than 2,000 candidates were approved for the next stage, when the results were released in early July. Shortly afterwards, an image of a successful candidate's answer sheet began to circulate on social media, leaving a large part of the test blank, raising suspicions of fraud. The police arrested the candidate at the center of the controversy, as well as ten other people, and the president of the commission resigned under pressure. But protesters say these measures do not address the structural problem. What are the protesters' demands? Devendra Nath Mahto has been on hunger strike for nine days and has lost more than 10 kilos. Somnath Sen/ANI via DW Protesters in Jharkhand want the exam results to be annulled and the test to be re-administered. They also demand an independent investigation, conducted by retired high court judges from other states or by federal authorities. Protesters argue that a state police investigation would not be able to adequately examine allegations involving Jharkhand's own recruitment system. The Jharkhand Chhatra Sangh (JCS), a leading student organization in the state, is also demanding greater transparency in the release of answer sheets and results, biometric verification of candidates, stricter mechanisms against test leaks and accountability of authorities and private third-party recruitment agencies. The student organization also defends that suspicious exams carried out in recent years are investigated and, when necessary, canceled and reapplied. "The government needs to completely reform the JPSC and JSSC recruitment system, investigate those responsible, blacklist agencies involved in irregularities and make future exams transparent and fraud-proof," S Ali, national president of the student body, told DW. Are the protests in Ranchi inspired by the Delhi student movement? Dissatisfaction with the civil service recruitment exams in Jharkhand has been building for years ANI Photo via DW The protest in Ranchi began a few days after the CJP, a student movement that gained national prominence recently, ended a 36-day mobilization in New Delhi against the leak of exam papers for the national entrance exam for medical courses. The protest in Ranchi began a few days after the CJP (the Cockroach People's Party) ended its 36-day mobilization in Delhi against the leak of exam papers for the national entrance exam for medical courses. The movement brought together young people in hunger strikes and camps in front of the historic Jantar Mantar observatory, in the Indian capital, and culminated in the resignation of India's Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke announced plans to travel to Jharkhand, while a delegation from the group has already arrived in Ranchi to support the movement. But the movement in Jharkhand is more than just a copy of the CJP. The protests are led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Forum along with the Jharkhand Revolutionary Democratic Front. Student bodies, including the All-India Students Association (AISA) and the All India Students' Federation (AISF), also joined the mobilization. Neha Bora, president of AISA, vis.