India saw one of its largest youth-led protest movements in years between June and August 2026, sparked by allegations of irregularities in the NEET-UG medical entrance exam. The demonstrations, centered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, drew students, opposition parties, and civil society groups, and ultimately led to the resignation of a senior cabinet minister.
What sparked the protests
The protests began in June 2026 after reports surfaced that questions from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) had been leaked ahead of the exam, alongside irregularities in CBSE’s on-screen marking process. The National Testing Agency later canceled the affected exam. In the weeks that followed, several students who had appeared for the test died by suicide, which protesters cited as evidence of the human cost of the exam system’s failures.
The movement grows
Demonstrations at Jantar Mantar were organized by the youth group Cockroach Janta Party alongside established student organizations, including the All India Students Federation, All India Students Association, and Students’ Federation of India. Protesters called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and for broader reforms to how national exams are administered.
Social activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protests in June and began a hunger strike that continued for roughly 26 days. His removal by police in July drew wider national attention and expanded the movement’s reach beyond Delhi.
On July 20, Delhi Police used batons and tear gas to disperse a march from Mandi House Metro Station toward Jantar Mantar. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, said the response involved excessive force against largely peaceful demonstrators; authorities have not indicated the incident is under independent review.
Resolution
On July 23, Wangchuk ended his hunger strike after the government said it would not pursue legal action against protesters, would hold discussions on preventing future exam leaks, and would provide compensation to families of students who died by suicide during the controversy. Pradhan resigned from his post on July 25, and organizers called off the Jantar Mantar demonstrations shortly after.
What’s next
The protest movement’s momentum has since shifted toward a separate, broader mobilization: a national convention of trade unions and farmer groups has planned a nationwide protest for August 10, organized by the Joint Platform of the 10 Central Trade Unions and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha. That action is centered on labor and agricultural demands rather than education policy, though some groups involved in the NEET protests have signaled support.