BHUBANESWAR: Police in India's eastern Bihar state used water cannons and detained dozens of protesters attempting to march on the governor's residence on Tuesday, demanding the cancellation of a civil services recruitment examination over allegations of leaked test question papers and other irregularities. The Bihar Public Service Commission test is a highly competitive state-level examination held to recruit officers for the state administration. The protests erupted over the test conducted in December 2024. Local media reported that more than 300,000 candidates appeared for 2,000 positions that were filled in June after two rounds of tests and an interview. The state government had previously denied allegations of a widespread question paper leak, though it did order a re-examination at one centre at the time.

Visuals from news agency ANI showed hundreds of protesters in state capital Patna breaking through police barricades before water was sprayed from cannons to push them back. Other footage showed protesters being hauled into police buses and driven away from the scene. "The protest is now peaceful, and most of the demands have been met by the government," senior police officer K S Anupam told reporters. Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari also stated that the government had addressed students' demands without providing further details, adding that the door for dialogue remained "wide open."

India has witnessed an increase in demonstrations over examination irregularities since weeks-long protests forced the federal education minister's resignation in July. Similar protests in the neighbouring state of Jharkhand triggered the cancellation of civil service examinations there.

Political groups have announced a peaceful march in New Delhi next month to protest what they describe as the federal government's failure to fulfil promises made at the time, including the withdrawal of police cases against protesters.