India's 370 Million Gen Z Mounts 5-Day Protest Wave Over Exam Leaks and Unemployment
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Jul 25
India's 370 Million Gen Z Mounts 5-Day Protest Wave Over Exam Leaks and Unemployment
3 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Jul 25
Summary
Tens of thousands of young Indians have protested nationwide for five days, in the biggest street challenge to Narendra Modi in his 12 years in power.
The unrest was sparked by a leaked medical college entrance exam that forced more than 2 million students to retake the test after years of preparation; at least 12 students died by suicide.
Protesters are demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign over repeated exam leaks, while police have responded in some places with tear gas and baton charges.
Youth anger has widened beyond the exam scandal: more than four in five unemployed Indians are under 30, graduate joblessness is nine times higher than among the illiterate, and only 15% of 16 million people trained under state skills programs found jobs.
The movement, amplified by the Instagram-driven Cockroach Janta Party with more than 25 million followers, underscores a broader backlash against Modi's unmet jobs promises and limited concessions so far.
Why did police crackdowns and Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike turn a NEET leak scandal into a broader challenge to public trust?
How did a meme-born “Cockroach Janata Party” become a nationwide youth revolt over India’s leaked medical exam and broken merit system?
If millions compete for too few seats, can India fix exam leaks without rethinking its entire high-stakes education system?
22.8 Million Futures in Limbo: NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak, Youth Uprising, and India’s Exam Reform Crisis
Overview
The July 2026 crisis in India began with a major leak and cancellation of the NEET-UG exam, leaving millions of students in turmoil and sparking a wave of youth-led protests. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), born from a satirical response to a Supreme Court insult, quickly grew into a massive digital and street movement. Tensions escalated after police forcibly removed activist Sonam Wangchuk, leading to a huge march on Parliament and a violent crackdown. Amid public outrage, the government blocked CJP online, imposed metro and internet shutdowns, and faced heavy criticism. In response, stricter anti-cheating laws, exam reforms, and institutional overhauls were announced to restore trust.