In late July 2026, students across India staged peaceful protests against repeated examination paper leaks and the deteriorating public education system. Their demands focused on accountability and genuine education reform. On 20 July 2026, the Delhi Police together with the CAPFs used lathicharges and tear‑gas on the demonstrators, injuring many students.
Key Developments
- Violent dispersal of student rallies on 20 July 2026 by police and paramilitary forces.
- Over 150 paper leaks reported in the last 12 years, including nine by the NTA since its inception in 2017.
- Government cut spending on school education by 50% and on higher education by 33%.
- Closure of nearly 1 lakh public schools; 43,000 private schools, many run by the RSS, opened.
- NEP 2020 enacted without parliamentary debate; NTA created without legislative oversight.
Important Facts
Funding and Infrastructure
The Modi government reduced the share of the Union budget for school education by half and for higher education by a third. Consequently, public schools are shutting down, and families are forced to spend on private coaching. Expenditure on NEET coaching alone equals the total government outlay for public education.
Testing System Weaknesses
Traditional state‑run exams have been replaced by centrally administered tests like the CUET. The NTA relies heavily on private contractors, and its paper‑setters lack strong academic credentials, leading to repeated leaks.
Employment Outlook
Graduate unemployment hovers around 40%. Political appointments of Vice‑Chancellors and faculty have weakened teaching quality, leaving students ill‑prepared for a job market increasingly driven by technology and AI.
Exam Relevance
These events touch on several GS papers: GS2 (Polity) – role of police, CAPFs, and parliamentary oversight; GS3 (Economy) – budget allocations, private‑school growth, and the impact of NEP 2020; GS4 (Ethics) – accountability of public officials and the right to peaceful protest.
Way Forward
- Parliamentary scrutiny of the NEP 2020 and the NTA.
- Restore and increase budgetary support for public schools and universities.
- Establish transparent, merit‑based recruitment for university leadership.
- Create an independent body to monitor examination integrity and penalise leaks.
- Engage student representatives in policy dialogues to prevent future unrest.
Addressing these issues is essential for safeguarding India’s human capital and upholding democratic values.