Gone are the days when competitive exams were simply the gateway to success and opportunities. These days, when a competitive exam is held, it comes with cancellations, postponements, uncertainty, and ultimately, protests in the streets. For the youth of this generation, struggling to secure a job is equal to struggling for life itself. However, the same youth is expected to be the strength of the nation and a pioneer for generations to come. In a country that races for government jobs every year, uncertainty and anxiety keep rising with each passing year. When these situations persist, not only the future of students, but also the very future of the nation itself, is at stake. The recent student protest in Jharkhand highlighted a deeper crisis: When the system meant to secure its citizens fails to protect its young population, what awaits India in the future? Who would ensure the nation's stability and survival?
The protests in Jharkhand reflected the impediments and setbacks of the competitive examination system in our country, especially in the past decades. Hundreds of civil service aspirants took to the streets demanding accountability and fairness in conducting these examinations. This follows repeated irregularities found in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and JSSC-CGL exams over the last few years. Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader, Devendra Nath Mahto, observed a hunger strike that lasted 16 long days.
However, the protests did not remain peaceful as expected. Chaos broke out between the protesting students and the police. According to sources, the police claimed that the protesters pelted stones at the police, which prompted them to eventually use water cannons and opt for lathi charges to control the situation. Several student protesters were severely injured, raising broader questions about the possibility of peaceful protests in India. While the police accused the protesters of trying to destroy the barricades and wreak havoc, the students lashed out at the police for turning a calm protest into a violent one. The same event occurred during the student protest at Jantar Mantar.
In a country where freedom of speech gains wider significance, freedom to protest becomes a less-spoken-about topic. These recent demonstrations have paved the way for questions that point towards the possibility of silencing the protests through means of violence and oppression. The police also arrested some of the aspirants, further intensifying tensions.
The demands had included a CBI probe to investigate the irregularities, along with transparency in future examinations. Opposition BJP leaders have also staged a protest demanding the withdrawal of cases filed against the protesting aspirants. They also accused the ruling government of doing injustice to the young aspirants in Jharkhand.
Following these incidents, the state government ordered the cancellation of 22 public recruitment examinations. This decision consequently faced severe backlash from the already recruited candidates. Questions arose related to the accountability of the already recruited posts and their job security in the future. While one phase of the protest staged by the candidates came to an end, another broke out, staged by the serving candidates, who spent years of hard work and dedication but finally ended up in a government order that threatened their jobs. These candidates expressed their grief at having to face the situation because of the individuals who were involved in the malpractice, despite genuinely earning their posts. Consequently, the High Court ordered a stay on the cancellation orders issued by the state government.
What unfolded in Jharkhand has clearly sparked fears that the young generation will lose faith in the system itself and will be left with a never-ending search for jobs in the country. With the existing threat of losing jobs to AI, this situation only adds fuel to the fire. When the focus is on securing a stable and secure government job, aspirants put their blood and sweat into achieving it. But obstacles like cancellations, delays in recruitment and paper leaks waste several years of earning. There also arises the issue of passing the upper age limit to attempt these examinations due to the prolonged delays. This leaves the candidate's future and hard work lost. The students who opt for joining coaching classes face financial losses too.
What is left is to restore faith and conduct further examinations and the recruitment process in a fair and transparent manner. The candidates also expect accountability and job security in the future, which is one of the core responsibilities of the government. According to sources, nearly 30 lakh students compete every year for government posts. With such high competition, one can imagine the pressure on students and their families, especially with mass graduation among students. Hence, activists and protestors demand a quicker solution to the issue. Political rivalries and other factors must never be treated as a central factor. Instead, focus must be broadened to the very future of the nation and its ability to march towards progress. Hence, this protest should not be viewed merely against the recent irregularities, but against the entire system itself.
References: