Indian police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse thousands of protesting students and job applicants who demanded government reforms of the civil service examination system amid allegations of exam leaks and manipulated results.
On 11 August 2026, BBC reported that police in Jharkhand state, eastern India, used tear gas, water cannons, and batons to break up protesters attempting to breach barriers to reach the state parliament. The protests had lasted over two weeks, involving thousands of students, job seekers, and volunteers demanding government reforms to the civil service selection exams amid allegations of irregularities and possible answer leaks.
Reports stated that some protesters were injured, though no official numbers were released. Most protesters remained peaceful, but some tried to break through barriers and threw stones at police, resulting in injuries to three officers.
The protesters in Ranchi began gathering at a stadium on 25 July, with some sleeping outdoors and others fasting to pressure the government. The unrest originated from the preliminary civil service examination held by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission in April, with results announced in July. Candidates alleged that answer sheets were leaked on social media, raising suspicions that some who passed had unusually low correct answers, leading to accusations of manipulated results.
Source: BBC