Concerns over India’s education system have taken centre stage following allegations of paper leaks and irregularities in major entrance examinations, including the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions.
In response, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) launched a nationwide agitation, with protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and several other cities, calling for greater transparency and accountability in the examination process.
The protests soon evolved into a broader conversation about the need to modernise India’s education system and move beyond an approach heavily reliant on rote learning and high-pressure competitive examinations. While the movement highlighted genuine concerns among students, it also attracted criticism over increasing politicisation and the spread of misinformation on social media. Authorities alleged that around 480 Pakistan-based social media accounts amplified the unrest using AI-generated content, deepfakes and manipulated media, further complicating public discourse.
As the movement gathered momentum, it drew support from student groups in several countries, including SFI-UK, as well as film personalities such as Shabana Azmi, Prakash Raj and Sonu Sood, who either participated in demonstrations or expressed solidarity online.
The agitation was also compared with Gen Z-led movements in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Unlike those protests, which largely sought political change, the CJP campaign remained focused on education reforms, examination transparency and institutional accountability. The largely non-violent demonstrations also stood out for their creative and humorous approach, with student-led protests in places such as Patna using satire and viral content to amplify their message.
Another distinctive feature of the movement was its emphasis on civic responsibility. After demonstrations concluded, volunteers cleaned protest sites, collecting litter and supporting the Swachh Bharat Mission alongside local civic authorities to restore public spaces.
Amid the growing debate over the NEET paper leak controversy, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down from his position. The CJP subsequently withdrew its nationwide agitation after reaching an agreement with the Centre during discussions led by Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh.
Since then, the government has appointed a new Education Minister and initiated measures, including an anti-paper leak bill and reforms aimed at improving transparency and strengthening the examination system.
Pralhad Joshi appointed as a new Education Minister
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi officially took charge as Education Minister at Kartavya Bhavan, succeeding Dharmendra Pradhan, who stepped down following nationwide student protests over the NEET paper leak controversy.
After assuming office, Joshi chaired a review meeting to assess the implementation of key schemes and initiatives of the Education Ministry. Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary also attended the meeting.
An official statement said President Droupadi Murmu assigned Joshi the additional charge of the Education Ministry on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will continue to hold the portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy.
An official statement said President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan with immediate effect on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Senior Education Ministry officials, including Higher Education Secretary Dr Vineet Joshi and School Education Secretary T. K. Anil Kumar, were present during the charge handover.
According to his parliamentary profile, Pralhad Joshi graduated in arts from Karnataka University and has served as a Union Cabinet minister since 2019, handling portfolios including Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines.
Dharmendra Pradhan resigns amid NEET row
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post weeks after student protests over the NEET paper leak and exam irregularities.
He announced the decision on X, sharing a two-page resignation letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a letter to students, Dharmendra Pradhan said he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid protests at Jantar Mantar and across the country over the NEET issue. He said he remained committed to education reforms and respected the aspirations of young people, adding that the decision was taken to protect students' futures and prevent the situation from being misused.
Pradhan said the government acted swiftly after irregularities were reported in the NEET-UG 2026 examination, handing the matter over to the CBI, cancelling the exam and announcing a re-examination. He added that the government had decided to conduct the test in computer-based test (CBT) mode from the following year.
In his resignation letter, Pradhan said he had taken responsibility from the beginning and remained committed to ensuring that no deserving student’s future was affected by the alleged examination malpractice. He also accused certain individuals of misleading students and creating confusion during the controversy.
Expressing sadness over the protests and developments of the past few days, Pradhan said India’s youth are the country’s greatest strength and stressed that their aspirations, careers and trust in the education system must be protected.
Modi forms task force to secure exam system
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a high-powered task force led by former UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani to recommend measures for making India’s examination system more secure, transparent and technology-driven.
He said the panel would focus on reforms to build trust in the exam process.
Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, has previously worked with the government on major digital initiatives including Aadhaar and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). He also heads the governing body of the policy research think tank NCAER.
Sources said a multidisciplinary panel of experts will assist in restructuring the National Testing Agency (NTA) examination system, with a focus on technology upgrades and wider reforms. The committee will include former ISRO chairman S Somnath, former IB director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras director V. Kamakoti, former Education Secretary Anita Karwal, logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena, and Nilekani.
Modi said the government was taking steps to punish those responsible for compromising students’ futures, including setting up fast-track courts and introducing a strict law in Parliament. He announced the high-powered committee in an Instagram reel, a day after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned amid protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and re-examination.
Centre introduces stricter anti-paper leak bill
The government introduced the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill 2026 in the Lok Sabha amid Opposition protests demanding a discussion on police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak.
The Bill proposes stricter penalties for exam malpractices, including up to 10 years in jail and a Rs 50 lakh fine. Six hours have been allocated for debate, with 91 amendments moved by MPs. The legislation comes after nationwide student protests over the NEET-UG paper leak, which led to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced by Minister of State Jitendra Singh amid Opposition protests over the police action against students during the July 20 Parliament march and demonstrations in states including West Bengal and Bihar.
Victory demonstration held by SFI-UK across Britain
The Students' Federation of India United Kingdom (SFI-UK) organised a victory demonstration at Trafalgar Square on 26 July 2026 to celebrate the power of student movements.
The protest was attended by climate activist Greta Thunberg, along with members of the Indian diaspora and student communities.
The demonstration followed SFI-UK’s earlier solidarity protests in support of NEET aspirants and Indian students who had been demanding transparency and accountability over examination-related issues. Students across the UK had joined the movement to raise their voices for education rights and justice.
Addressing the event, Thunberg said the students’ campaign had inspired people around the world and highlighted the importance of unity in standing against injustice. She praised Indian students for their courage and said their movement demonstrated the true power of collective action and people coming together for a common cause.
She said, “The Indian student protest has made us all proud! They have given us hope! They show what we can accomplish when people come together and resist. They show the true meaning of people power. The Indian students’ struggle for justice and the broader struggle for democracy and liberation is also our struggle. So we all have to come together now and rise up in solidarity with India.”
In a statement by President Nupur Paliwal and Secretary Somiha Chatterjee, the Students' Federation of India United Kingdom (SFI-UK) described the movement as a victory following Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and credited the efforts of student groups, progressive organisations and protesters who mobilised across the UK in solidarity with Indian students demanding justice.
The victory demonstration at Trafalgar Square on 26 July 2026 was attended by hundreds of students and supporters, with songs, poetry and speeches showcasing international solidarity. The organisation said Thunberg’s message reflected the wider support the movement received from activists and students across the world.
Former Labour leader and MP Jeremy Corbyn also extended his support to the demonstration through a video message saying, “My greetings and solidarity to this magnificent demonstration. Students and young people in India have shown their determination to be able to get good quality education and above all to get jobs at the end of it. Those huge demonstrations have already forced changes on the government of India.
"I see these demonstrations in support of education as part of a global protest of young people saying they've had enough of neoliberal economics that charges massively for further and higher education and doesn't provide the jobs at the end of it. My solidarity to all, my congratulations on what you've achieved, and we're all going to be campaigning together for a world based on freedom, based on peace, and based on justice—where young people are able to realise their massive potentials, not be settled with massive debts just because they wanted to gain an education. My congratulations."
Protests were held in cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Cardiff and Liverpool, where students and activists raised concerns over the NEET paper leak, education reforms and the alleged suppression of student voices. SFI-UK said it would continue its campaign for a fair and accessible education system, stating that the movement demonstrated that the fight for students’ rights extends beyond borders.
CJP warns of fresh protests over FIR dispute
CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the party expected the government to withdraw FIRs against protesters as part of their agreement.
He said the Supreme Court’s decision to retain existing FIRs differed from what was discussed during negotiations and urged the government to honour its assurances.
Das said the party welcomed any steps by the Supreme Court that supported students’ interests but stressed that its own demands must also be addressed. He said the key demands included withdrawal of FIRs against protesters, protection from any future retaliatory action and the release of those detained during the agitation.
Das said the party was expecting a written assurance from the government and warned that the CJP could resume large-scale protests, including a nationwide agitation, if the commitments made during discussions were not fulfilled.
