Devendra Nath Mahto, an Indian student leader, has ended his 16-day hunger strike after the government agreed to cancel a controversial recruitment exam in Jharkhand state. The protesters will continue their demonstrations until India's premier investigative agency begins probing alleged malpractices in other recruitment exams. The government has scrapped the JSSC-CGL examination and announced an investigation by the CID, which is already investigating irregularities in last month's civil service exam results. A committee will be set up to recommend reforms to the state's examination system.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-18,
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same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Devendra Nath Mahto, a student leader from Jharkhand, India, ended his 16-day hunger strike after the state government agreed to cancel a controversial recruitment exam. The protest, which began on July 25th, was sparked by allegations of irregularities in government recruitment exams and demanded reforms. In addition to cancelling the exam, the government also announced an investigation into the alleged malpractices by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). However, protesters are continuing their demonstrations until Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probes alleged malpractices in other recruitment exams. Mahto was admitted to a hospital in Ranchi due to deteriorating health and ended his fast in the presence of state ministers. The protest highlights the high stakes of government jobs in India, where millions of people compete for stability and security.
Written for “Indian Student Leader Hunger Strike” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 1074 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-25
- Published
An activist in India's eastern Jharkhand state has ended a 16-day hunger strike after the government agreed to protesters' demands to cancel a controversial recruitment exam.
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government → publish → exam
However, the protesters say they will not call off demonstrations until India's premier investigative agency begins probing alleged malpractices in other recruitment exams.
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agency → say → exams
Devendra Nath Mahto ended his fast in the presence of state ministers at a hospital in capital Ranchi, where he was admitted last week after his health deteriorated.
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health → end → Ranchi
He was one of the faces of the protests, which began on 25 July after job-seekers and students alleged irregularities in government recruitment exams and demanded reforms.
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seekers → begin → reforms
Government jobs are highly sought after in India as they offer stability and security.
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they → seek → stability
Millions of people write these exams every year across states and nationally, often attending coaching classes, until they reach the mandated age limit.
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they → write → limit
But several exams have landed in controversies due to allegations of question papers being leaked and candidates using unfair means.
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candidates → land → means
Even for many who qualify, the uncertainty doesn't end as the recruitment process can drag on for years.
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process → qualify → years
In Jharkhand, the protests began after last month's preliminary civil service exam results, with some candidates alleging that answer sheets shared online showed successful applicants had answered fewer questions than expected, fuelling suspicions of manipulation.
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applicants → begin → manipulation
It came on the heels of a larger protest in Indian capital Delhi, which culminated in the resignation of the federal education minister, and hence put more pressure on Chief Minister Hemant Soren's government.
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which → come → government
The state government agreed to cancel the preliminary exam days ago and announced an investigation by the state's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which has arrested several people including the chief of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission.
But protesters had held out for the cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination and also demanded an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
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protesters → agree → Investigation
On Monday night, Soren announced that this exam would also be scrapped.
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exam → announce → night
The chief minister told reporters that "many shocking facts are emerging" as part of the CID's investigation into the exam irregularities but did not give more details, saying that "the matter is under investigation".
He also announced that all exams conducted by private agency TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), which had won a tender, would be cancelled.
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which → tell → tender
He also announced an investigation into recruitment exams held since 2014 - it's not clear yet what would happen to candidates who cleared those exams if the investigation does find any irregularities.
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investigation → announce → irregularities
A committee will also be set up to recommend reforms to the state's examination system.
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committee → set → system
The announcement sparked celebrations among protesters, who danced and cheered at a stadium in Ranchi, where they have been camping since 25 July.
But some said they would continue their protest until the CBI investigation was announced.
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investigation → spark → protest
"Until that demand is met, we will not move from here," student activist Ravindra Paswan told news agency ANI.
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Paswan → meet → ANI
The protests had put the government - an alliance which includes Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Congress and some other parties - on the backfoot.
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which → put → backfoot
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in the opposition in the state, has been supporting the protesters.
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which → support → protesters
Reports say the government's decision to cancel the JSSC-CGL exam has triggered backlash from successful candidates who had already joined government jobs.
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who → say → jobs
