Dhanbad: As many as 15 students studying diploma in mine surveying at Ramvilas 10 Plus 2 Uchha Vidyalaya in Bermo, Bokaro, launched an indefinite fast in front of the office of directorate general of mines safety (DGMS) to protest against the delay in examinations for the last two years.

The protestors, under the banner of Mining Chhatra Sangh, alleged that their examinations were not being held since June 2016 and as a result they were not getting their certificates that would help them apply for jobs.

Sashi Chauhan (28), a student of the Bermo institute, said the problem was not limited to just Bokaro students. "Over 1,000 students who had pursued the mine surveying course from different institutes across the country are also awaiting their exams for the last two years. As a result we haven't received the certificate of competency, which is preventing us from applying for jobs at organisations like Northern Coalfields and Eastern Coalfields," he added.

"We have visited the DGMS office several times for the last one year but every time we are told that the exams will be held soon. We have now lost our patience as many of us are facing the risk of loosing the eligibility criteria because of our increasing age," said Chauhan, adding more students were likely to join the protest on Wednesday.

"We are currently making some changes in the examination pattern. We are now shifting to objective question pattern for which we are making changes in the syllabus. We are also planning to hold online written examinations," said a senior officer of DGMS, adding the exams were likely to be held in December this year.