The 'Bharat Bandh' called by the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) sparked a range of reactions across India on Tuesday.
The bandh was held in protest against the Supreme Court's recent decision on the sub-categorization of quotas for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) and the debate surrounding lateral entry into central civil services.
In Rajasthan, the bandh led to notable disruptions, with several districts witnessing the closure of shops and schools. In Bharatpur, mobile internet services were suspended to curb potential unrest. Orders from district collectors in cities like Jaipur, Dausa, and Alwar mandated the shutdown of educational institutions, causing considerable disruption to daily life. Public transport was also hit, with fewer buses operating, leaving many commuters facing delays.
In Jharkhand, the bandh's impact was evident as public buses stayed off the roads and schools remained shut in Ranchi and other regions. Conversely, states such as Assam and Odisha experienced minimal effects, with government offices, banks, and educational institutions functioning normally, showing little sign of the bandh’s influence.
In Bihar, ongoing recruitment exams for police constables and the Bihar Special Armed Police proceeded without disruption. The state government had previously instructed law enforcement to ensure that exam candidates could reach their centres smoothly, underscoring efforts to mitigate the bandh's impact on essential services.