Since June 20, 2026, students across India have been camped at Jantar Mantar to protest the NEET paper leak. The movement, led by the satirical CJP, now demands the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for families of students who died after the leak.
Key Developments (Bullet Points)
- Protesters have stayed for 34 days at the site, with daily crowds of thousands.
- On July 23, 2026, chants for Pradhan’s resignation echoed across the venue.
- Activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcefully removed on July 18, sparking renewed vigour.
- Security forces used RAF personnel, lathi‑charges, and pellet guns, injuring at least 60 protesters and 118 police officers.
- Internet services were disrupted within a 2‑km radius and 16 metro stations were shut.
- The government announced a fast‑track court and compensation for affected families.
Important Facts
The leak impacted 22 lakh NEET aspirants, many from economically weaker sections who could not afford a second attempt. Student groups across Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Patna, Kochi, Kolkata, Guwahati and others echoed the Delhi protests, demanding no FIRs against peaceful demonstrators. Universities such as Delhi University and JNU issued advisories urging students to stay away, while the Association of Indian Universities called for academic focus.
Legal actions so far include 13 FIRs filed against over 400 protesters, with a significant share being under 25 years old and many women. Reports of digital notices, location tracking and phone confiscation have raised concerns about illegal surveillance.
Exam Relevance
1. NTA and its role in exam integrity highlight governance challenges in education administration.
2. The protest illustrates the use of public spaces like Jantar Mantar for democratic expression, relevant to civil liberties and state response.
3. The deployment of RAF and use of pellet guns raise questions on the proportionality of force, a key issue in policing and human rights.
4. The demand for a fast‑track court and compensation touches upon legal reforms and welfare measures.
5. The debate over the NEP 2020 and NEET’s difficulty connects to broader discussions on education equity.
Way Forward
- Strengthen the NTA with transparent audit mechanisms to prevent future leaks.
- Ensure proportional use of force by security agencies; adopt clear guidelines for crowd control in line with constitutional rights.
- Accelerate the establishment of fast‑track courts for exam‑fraud cases and provide timely compensation to affected families.
- Address systemic issues in higher‑education access, such as coaching‑class privilege and teacher vacancies, to reduce reliance on high‑stakes exams.
- Engage student representatives in policy dialogues to incorporate ground‑level perspectives into future education reforms.