New Delhi: The protests against the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) and the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Preliminary Examination continue in Ranchi, with the Congress, the pressure group Cockroach Janata Party, and the students’ body AISA professing support for them.Chief minister Hemant Soren has said that he is ready to talk. He was quoted as having said, “We have already specified a channel of communication. We are ready to talk. The government is keen to understand the issues faced by every student. We are now trying to take the students’ wishes beyond the confines of Jaipal Singh Stadium.”As many as six demonstrators are on a hunger strike. The Hindu reported that Rahul Kranti, who has been on fast since the night of August 4 was taken in an ambulance to the Ranchi Sadar hospital for treatment today after protesters alleged that no doctor reached the demonstration site this morning.AISA leader Neha Bora, who was on a hunger strike for 23 days as part of the movement that led to the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, met the protesters who are on hunger strike at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi today.The demonstration was disrupted at one point by people who threw ink at Neha and other women protesters. AISA has noted this was the culmination of an effort by the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-led individuals who “have been running propaganda and a hate campaign against Neha’s participation in the protest.”The BJP is in opposition in Jharkhand.All India Student’s Association (AISA) members raise slogans during a protest against the alleged irregularities of examinations conducted by Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), in Ranchi, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. Photo: PTI.The protests are being led by two bodies – the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch and Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha. The latter’s Devendra Nath Mahto has been on a hunger strike for the past six days.The groups have been demanding the cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination and reforms in the JSSC.Protesters have put forth three key demands:1. The immediate cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level examination and a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into reports of the paper leaks.2. The cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission Preliminary Examination and the backlog recruitment process, and a CBI investigation into the alleged involvement of individuals, including Abhay Tiwari.3. Comprehensive reforms in the JSSC and JPSC recruitment systems.Today, Jharkhand minister Chamra Linda said talks will be held today. “Everything is being done after due consideration and is moving towards a solution. Talks will be held, and discussions are expected to begin today,” he was quoted as having said.The Congress national leadership on Thursday came out in support of the protest in Ranchi against the government of ally Hemant Soren over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission exam.When the results of the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination were published on July 2, candidates found that there were no category-wise cut-off marks, individual candidate scores, and official Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) answer keys.The agitation, as reports have noted, comes after years of recurring mistakes.