Indian youth protest alleged exam irregularities in Jharkhand
Thousands of students and unemployed young people marched toward the state legislature in India’s eastern Jharkhand state on Monday.
The protesters were demanding action over alleged irregularities in civil services recruitment examinations.
Police used water cannons to disperse the demonstrators as they moved toward the state assembly in the state capital, Ranchi.
The protesters accused authorities of failing to ensure transparency in government recruitment exams. They also raised concerns over alleged question paper leaks.
The demonstrations began on July 25 and have grown in size in recent days.
Thousands of young people had earlier gathered at a stadium in Ranchi as the campaign gained momentum.
The protesters are demanding major changes to the state’s examination system. They have also called for the cancellation of certain examinations and a federal investigation into the alleged irregularities.
On Monday, demonstrators moved toward the legislature despite heavy security arrangements.
Some protesters climbed over police barricades while carrying placards and Indian flags. They chanted slogans and called for action against those responsible for the alleged examination problems.
The protests reflect growing frustration among students and unemployed youth in Jharkhand, one of India’s less economically developed states.
The state government has held talks with representatives of the protesters. Officials have said that many of their demands have already been accepted.
The government has also indicated that it is willing to continue discussions to address the remaining concerns.
The demonstrations in Jharkhand come amid wider anger among Indian youth over alleged corruption in recruitment examinations.
Similar protests were held in New Delhi in recent weeks. Those demonstrations focused on alleged irregularities and paper leaks involving national-level examinations.
The protests eventually contributed to the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan last month, following controversy surrounding alleged leaks in a national medical entrance examination.
The growing demonstrations have highlighted concerns over unemployment and limited job opportunities for young people.
Students and job seekers argue that examination irregularities can damage their career prospects after years of preparation.
The protests also reflect broader concerns about transparency in public recruitment and the credibility of competitive examinations.
