Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Awaiting answers: On the student protests in Jharkhand

Awaiting answers: On the student protests in Jharkhand

Student agitations (आंदोलन, विरोध-प्रदर्शन) in Ranchi reveal (प्रकट करना, उजागर करना) angst (चिंता, व्याकुलता) over (के बारे में, को लेकर) flawed (दोषपूर्ण, त्रुटिपूर्ण) exam processes

When the route up the economic ladder (towards a higher position or level in a social, professional, or economic hierarchy; upward, towards a higher level, higher up, towards advancement) in society is limited (सीमित, प्रतिबंधित) to an ever-narrowing (continuously shrinking, increasingly limited, constantly decreasing, consistently diminishing) range of options in the public sector (सार्वजनिक क्षेत्र, सरकारी क्षेत्र), and the process of gaining entry through entrance examinations becomes tainted (दूषित, कलंकित), angst and agitation are the results. This is why students in Jharkhand, loosely (casually, informally, broadly, roughly) organised into two platforms (मंच, संगठन) — the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) (झारखंड लोक सेवा आयोग)-Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) (झारखंड कर्मचारी चयन आयोग) Abhyarthi Nyay Manch and the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch — have been protesting in Ranchi for over three weeks. The trigger was the July 2 result of the JPSC’s 14th Combined Civil Services preliminary examination, which shortlisted 2,204 candidates from about 3.5 lakh aspirants (आकांक्षी, अभ्यर्थी) for 103 posts. Aspirants pointed to (संकेत करना, इंगित करना) undisclosed (not revealed or made known publicly; secret, hidden, concealed, unrevealed) category-wise (श्रेणीवार, वर्गवार) cut-offs (a designated limit or minimum required score, especially in an examination or selection process; threshold, limit, minimum score, baseline), oddities (a strange, unusual, or peculiar feature or occurrence; peculiarity, anomaly, irregularity, abnormality) in the merit list (a ranking or record of candidates based on their scores, grades, or performance in an evaluation; rank list, ranking, selection list), a widely (extensively, broadly, commonly, universally) circulated (distributed, disseminated, shared, broadcast) OMR sheet on which an ostensibly successful candidate had attempted fewer than half the questions, and the fact that the conducting agency had been blacklisted in May 2025. The two platforms differ in their political leanings and have sought to negotiate (to try to reach an agreement or compromise by discussion with others; discuss, parley, confer, deliberate) separately with the government, but both want the cancellation of the disputed (contested, controversial, debated, questionable) JPSC and JSSC exams, a CBI investigation (a formal or systematic examination; inquiry, probe, scrutiny) and prosecution (legal action, indictment, trial, litigation) of officials (officer, executive, bureaucrat, administrator), besides (in addition to or apart from something else; alongside, as well as, apart from, plus) the reconstitution (reorganization, restructuring, reshuffling, reformation) of commissions ((recruitment) committee, board, panel, agency) and a predictable (foreseeable, expected, anticipated, reliable) examination calendar (exam timetable). The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led coalition government has responded with CID raids, arrests, resignations in the JPSC, and a cabinet committee. On Monday it went further, announcing the cancellation of all examinations conducted since 2014 by the outsourced (contracted out, subcontracted, delegated, externally sourced) agency, TSR Data Processing (an external private agency historically hired by the Jharkhand government to manage recruitment examinations and data; external agency, outsourced firm, testing agency, data processing company), which might help assuage (calm, relieve, ease, alleviate, soothe) the agitating (protesting, unrestful, demonstrating, dissenting) students but could leave (to cause someone to remain in a particular state, condition, or situation; abandon, desert, strand, forsake) those who cleared the examinations fairly (justly, equitably, honestly, legitimately) in the lurch (left in a difficult, vulnerable, or helpless situation, usually without support or assistance; stranded, abandoned, helpless, deserted).

The rot (decay, corruption, deterioration, decline) in the exam system is deep-rooted. Since the State’s formation in 2000, results have frequently been delayed and cycles have been bunched up many times. In a recent JSSC exam, an SIT reported no organised (systematic, structured, coordinated, well-planned) leak (the unauthorised disclosure or release of confidential or restricted information; disclosure, exposure, breach, divulgence) despite (in spite of; regardless of, notwithstanding, in spite of, undeterred by) CID reports that described money changing hands for pre-examination access (entry, admission, approach, availability). These have eroded (gradually undermine, weaken, destroy, diminish) students’ trust (confidence, faith, belief, reliance) in the government; hence (as a consequence; for this reason; therefore, consequently, thus, accordingly) the demand for a CBI probe (a thorough inquiry or investigation; examination, scrutiny). The 2003 and 2005 exams were subject to CBI scrutiny but the cases are still pending. Yet, the Hemant Soren-led government should concede this politically unpalatable demand, along with other steps, including a fixed (set, established, rigid, definite) exam calendar, and fair (just, equitable, impartial, unbiased)  and transparent (clear, open, evident, straightforward) marking (the assessment and allocation of grades or scores to a candidate’s examination answers; grading, scoring, evaluating, assessing) with clear cut-offs and time-bound (deadline-driven, time-limited, scheduled, fixed-term) results. Jharkhand is one of India’s poorest States, and its mineral wealth (the abundance of valuable natural resources extracted from the earth; natural resources, mining riches, geological assets, earth resources) has not led to sufficient (adequate, enough, ample, satisfactory) employment. With youth forced to rely on (depend on, count on, bank on, lean on) monsoon-dependent (reliant on seasonal rains for success, particularly in agriculture; rain-reliant, season-bound, weather-dependent, rain-fed) agriculture and allied activities, a government job offers a steady option. Aspirants spend years in coaching centres and libraries in pursuit of this. The youth deserve not only a fair recruitment system but also a government that diversifies (vary, branch out, expand, broaden) their options for gainful (profitable, lucrative, rewarding, remunerative) employment.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.await (verb)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतीक्षा करना, इंतज़ार करना
English Meaning - wait for, expect, anticipate.

2.agitation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आंदोलन, विरोध-प्रदर्शन
English Meaning - protest, demonstration, unrest, turmoil.

3.reveal (verb)

Hindi Meaning - प्रकट करना, उजागर करना
English Meaning - disclose, uncover, expose, unveil.

4.angst (noun)

Hindi Meaning - चिंता, व्याकुलता
English Meaning - anxiety, apprehension, distress, unease.

5.over (preposition)

Hindi Meaning - के बारे में, को लेकर
English Meaning - about, concerning, regarding, on.

6.flawed (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - दोषपूर्ण, त्रुटिपूर्ण
English Meaning - defective, faulty, blemished, imperfect.

7.limited (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - सीमित, प्रतिबंधित
English Meaning - restricted, confined, narrow, finite.

8.public sector (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सार्वजनिक क्षेत्र, सरकारी क्षेत्र
English Meaning - government sector, public services, state-owned enterprises.

9.tainted (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - दूषित, कलंकित
English Meaning - corrupted, ruined, spoiled, tarnished.

10.platform (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मंच, संगठन
English Meaning - forum, group, association.

11.Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - झारखंड लोक सेवा आयोग
English Meaning - a State Public Service Commission constituted under Article 315 of the Constitution of India, responsible for conducting examinations and making recommendations for recruitment to various posts and services of the Jharkhand Government; its official documents identify its office at Circular Road, Ranchi, Jharkhand. Jharkhand was formed as a State on 15 November 2000.

12.Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - झारखंड कर्मचारी चयन आयोग
English Meaning - a State statutory recruitment commission established under the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Act, 2008, for conducting selection examinations for specified posts under the State Government; its headquarters/office is in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

13.aspirant (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आकांक्षी, अभ्यर्थी
English Meaning - a person who has ambitions to achieve something, typically to follow a particular career; candidate, applicant, hopeful, seeker.

14.point to (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - संकेत करना, इंगित करना
English Meaning - indicate, suggest, denote, signal.

15.category-wise (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - श्रेणीवार, वर्गवार
English Meaning - relating to or classified according to specific groups, classes, or categories; group-wise, class-specific, section-based, classified.

16.loosely (adverb)

English Meaning - casually, informally, broadly, roughly.

17.undisclosed (adjective)

English Meaning - not revealed or made known publicly; secret, hidden, concealed, unrevealed.

18.up the economic ladder (phrase)

English Meaning - towards a higher position or level in a social, professional, or economic hierarchy; upward, towards a higher level, higher up, towards advancement.

19.ever-narrowing (adjective)

English Meaning - continuously shrinking, increasingly limited, constantly decreasing, consistently diminishing.

20.cut-off (noun)

English Meaning - a designated limit or minimum required score, especially in an examination or selection process; threshold, limit, minimum score, baseline.

21.oddity (noun)

English Meaning - a strange, unusual, or peculiar feature or occurrence; peculiarity, anomaly, irregularity, abnormality.

22.merit list (noun)

English Meaning - a ranking or record of candidates based on their scores, grades, or performance in an evaluation; rank list, ranking, selection list.

23.widely (adverb)

English Meaning - extensively, broadly, commonly, universally.

24.circulated (adjective)

English Meaning - distributed, disseminated, shared, broadcast.

25.seek (verb)

English Meaning - to attempt to find, achieve, or obtain something; pursue, try, attempt, aim.

26.negotiate (verb)

English Meaning - to try to reach an agreement or compromise by discussion with others; discuss, parley, confer, deliberate.

27.disputed (adjective)

English Meaning - contested, controversial, debated, questionable.

28.investigation (noun)

English Meaning - a formal or systematic examination; inquiry, probe, scrutiny.

29.prosecution (noun)

English Meaning - legal action, indictment, trial, litigation.

30.official (noun)

English Meaning - officer, executive, bureaucrat, administrator.

31.besides (preposition)

English Meaning - in addition to or apart from something else; alongside, as well as, apart from, plus.

32.reconstitution (noun)

English Meaning - reorganization, restructuring, reshuffling, reformation.

33.commission (noun)

English Meaning - (recruitment) committee, board, panel, agency.

34.predictable (adjective)

English Meaning - foreseeable, expected, anticipated, reliable.

35.examination calendar (noun)

English Meaning - exam timetable.

36.go further (phrase)

English Meaning - to take an action that is more extreme, advanced, or comprehensive than previously done; proceed further, advance, escalate, step up.

37.outsourced (adjective)

English Meaning - contracted out, subcontracted, delegated, externally sourced.

38.TSR Data Processing (noun)

English Meaning - an external private agency historically hired by the Jharkhand government to manage recruitment examinations and data; external agency, outsourced firm, testing agency, data processing company.

39.assuage (verb)

English Meaning - calm, relieve, ease, alleviate, soothe.

40.agitating (adjective)

English Meaning - protesting, unrestful, demonstrating, dissenting.

41.leave (verb)

English Meaning - to cause someone to remain in a particular state, condition, or situation; abandon, desert, strand, forsake.

42.fairly (adverb)

English Meaning - justly, equitably, honestly, legitimately.

43.in the lurch (phrase)

English Meaning - left in a difficult, vulnerable, or helpless situation, usually without support or assistance; stranded, abandoned, helpless, deserted.

44.leave someone in the lurch (phrase)

English Meaning - to abandon someone in a difficult situation without help or support; abandon, desert, let down, leave stranded.

45.rot (noun)

English Meaning - decay, corruption, deterioration, decline.

46.Special Investigation Team (SIT) (organization)

English Meaning - a specialized group of law enforcement officers appointed to probe high-profile or complex criminal cases.

47.organised (adjective)

English Meaning - systematic, structured, coordinated, well-planned.

48.leak (noun)

English Meaning - the unauthorised disclosure or release of confidential or restricted information; disclosure, exposure, breach, divulgence.

49.despite (preposition)

English Meaning - in spite of; regardless of, notwithstanding, in spite of, undeterred by.

50.change hands (phrase)

English Meaning - to pass from one person or owner to another, often referring to money paid as bribes; transfer ownership, exchange hands, pass on, trade.

51.access (noun)

English Meaning - entry, admission, approach, availability.

52.erode (verb)

English Meaning - gradually undermine, weaken, destroy, diminish.

53.trust (noun)

English Meaning - confidence, faith, belief, reliance.

54.hence (adverb)

English Meaning - as a consequence; for this reason; therefore, consequently, thus, accordingly.

55.probe (noun)

English Meaning - a thorough inquiry or investigation; examination, scrutiny.

56.fixed (adjective)

English Meaning - set, established, rigid, definite.

57.fair (adjective)

English Meaning - just, equitable, impartial, unbiased.

58.transparent (adjective)

English Meaning - clear, open, evident, straightforward.

59.marking (noun)

English Meaning - the assessment and allocation of grades or scores to a candidate’s examination answers; grading, scoring, evaluating, assessing.

60.time-bound (adjective)

English Meaning - deadline-driven, time-limited, scheduled, fixed-term.

61.mineral wealth (noun)

English Meaning - the abundance of valuable natural resources extracted from the earth; natural resources, mining riches, geological assets, earth resources.

62.lead to (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to be the cause of or result in a particular outcome; result in, cause, bring about, produce.

63.sufficient (adjective)

English Meaning - adequate, enough, ample, satisfactory.

64.rely on (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - depend on, count on, bank on, lean on.

65.monsoon-dependent (adjective)

English Meaning - reliant on seasonal rains for success, particularly in agriculture; rain-reliant, season-bound, weather-dependent, rain-fed.

66.diversify (verb)

English Meaning - vary, branch out, expand, broaden.

67.gainful (adjective)

English Meaning - profitable, lucrative, rewarding, remunerative.