Thousands of demonstrators, primarily young people, marched on India's parliament to demand significant changes to the country's education system. The protests are largely focused on issues within the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), India's primary examination for medical college admissions.
The NEET exam, taken by approximately 2.28 million candidates on May 3, was canceled days after its administration due to allegations of leaked question papers. This decision led to a significant setback for aspirants who were required to retake the exam under heightened security weeks later. This cancellation was a key catalyst for the protests.
Protesters and families have also raised concerns that around 20 students died by suicide due to distress following the exam's cancellation. The NEET exam faced a similar controversy in 2024.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a group leading many of the demonstrations, is advocating for a complete overhaul of the education system. Their demands include greater accountability for alleged exam paper leaks and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Following the treatment of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was moved to a hospital during his hunger strike, CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke also called for the resignation of Prime Minister Modi. Activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 19 consecutive days in solidarity with the CJP's demands.