Actor, singer and lyricist Piyush Mishra visited the JPSC-JSSC student protest site in Ranchi and extended his support to aspirants demanding accountability over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations.
The protest, which began in late July and has now entered its 16th day, has continued despite multiple rounds of talks with the state government. Mishra said he decided to travel to Ranchi after watching interviews with protesting students and seeing the pain and distress in their eyes. He also praised them for maintaining a peaceful protest and offered support in the form of food, financial assistance and other essentials.
Meanwhile, the Jharkhand government held its sixth round of talks with representatives of the protesting students on Sunday, August 9, as efforts continued to resolve the deadlock.
‘I Saw The Pain In Their Eyes’
Mishra’s visit came after he had already expressed solidarity with the students through a video message. Speaking at the protest site, he said watching interviews with the aspirants was enough to convince him to come to Ranchi. “I saw the pain in their eyes. I saw their suffering and tears, and that was enough reason for me to come and extend my support,” he said. Mishra also emphasised his connection with young people, saying he wanted to do whatever was within his capacity to help them. He said assistance including food, tarpaulins and financial support had already been provided, while he had also sought contributions from his colleagues.
The actor further urged the students to maintain the character of their movement, asking them to keep the agitation peaceful and free from abusive language, misconduct and political interference. During his visit, Mishra also sang his popular song Aarambh Hai Prachand, written, composed and sung by him for the 2009 film Gulaal. His presence offered a moment of encouragement to protesters who have been continuing their agitation despite prolonged uncertainty over their demands.
What Are The Students Demanding?
The agitation is centred on allegations of irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). One of the main demands is the cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination, held on April 19, 2026, along with an independent investigation into alleged irregularities. Students have also raised concerns about the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination and other recruitment examinations conducted since 2019.
The protesters are seeking a CBI investigation, strict action against those allegedly responsible for irregularities, greater transparency in the recruitment process and the disclosure of category-wise cut-offs, OMR sheets and response sheets. They have also called for a recruitment calendar on the lines of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Staff Selection Commission (SSC). The current agitation follows earlier controversies surrounding JSSC examinations, including allegations linked to the 2024 CGL examination, which had faced cancellation and rescheduling after accusations of a paper leak.
The protest began with opposition to the results of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination and later expanded to include wider concerns over the functioning of JPSC and JSSC. Since July 25, the agitation has reportedly continued day and night, with some protesters also undertaking hunger strikes. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto said on August 9 that his health had deteriorated but his resolve to continue the struggle remained unchanged.
Government Holds Sixth Round
The Jharkhand government has been engaging with representatives of the protesters through a panel of ministers. On Sunday, the sixth round of talks was held at the State Guest House in Ranchi, with an eight-member delegation from the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch meeting ministers Dipika Pandey Singh, Sudivya Kumar, Chamra Linda and Sanjay Yadav. A five-member delegation from the All India Students’ Association (AISA) also participated. Five earlier rounds of discussions had failed to resolve the deadlock.
Minister Dipika Pandey Singh had said the government would hold another round of discussions before taking a final decision on the students’ demands. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has also stressed dialogue and transparency in responding to the concerns raised by the protesters. The government’s continued engagement has kept the possibility of a negotiated resolution open, although the students have maintained their key demands.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
For young people who spend years preparing for government examinations, the credibility of the recruitment system is about more than a single test result. It is about trust, opportunity and the belief that hard work will be assessed fairly. Allegations of examination irregularities therefore deserve a transparent and credible response, while any wrongdoing, if established through an impartial investigation, must invite appropriate action.
At the same time, peaceful student protests should remain spaces for dialogue rather than confrontation. Mishra’s appeal to keep the movement peaceful and the government’s decision to continue talks both underline the importance of listening before tensions escalate. Can sustained dialogue, transparency and an impartial examination process help restore students’ trust in Jharkhand’s recruitment system?
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VIDEO | Ranchi: Singer-actor Piyush Mishra visits the student protest site and extends support to the protesting students, singing his popular song ‘Aarambh Hai Prachand’ to the crowd. pic.twitter.com/ZgidgExs47
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 8, 2026
