Engineering graduates in Jharkhand are conducting an indefinite hunger strike to demand the filling of vacant government positions and exam reforms.
The protest highlights a systemic failure in recruitment that leaves qualified professionals without employment while critical government infrastructure posts remain empty. The agitation centers on the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
Students and members of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch have gathered at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi [1]. The protest began on July 25, 2026 [3], and has continued into August 2026 [1]. While hundreds of students continue the indefinite sit-in [5], reports indicate that five additional students recently joined the hunger strike to intensify the pressure on the administration [4].
The primary grievance involves 539 vacant Assistant Engineer posts across various departments [2]. Protesters said that no recruitment notifications have been issued to fill these roles despite the vacancies [6]. This lack of hiring is part of a larger pattern; the JPSC Assistant Engineer exam has been conducted only three times in 26 years, specifically in 2007, 2013, and 2019 [1].
Beyond the vacancies, the protesters are demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities regarding the JPSC and JSSC CGL recruitment exams [5]. The students seek comprehensive reforms of the JPSC to ensure transparency and regularity in the hiring process.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren said he has offered to hold talks with the students to resolve the recruitment row [1, 2]. However, the protesters maintain their position at the stadium until their demands for a probe and immediate recruitment notifications are met.
“The JPSC Assistant Engineer exam has been conducted only three times in 26 years.”
The prolonged nature of this protest reflects a deep frustration with the state's civil service bureaucracy. By highlighting that exams occurred only three times in over two decades, the students are pointing to a breakdown in the predictable career path for engineers in Jharkhand, which may lead to increased brain drain as professionals seek opportunities outside the state.
