Paper leak protests echo across India: Delhi to Bengaluru, students demand systemic change
Student protests against paper leaks and exam irregularities have spread across major cities including Delhi, Patna, Ranchi, Bhopal, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Jabalpur. The movement, which began with the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak, has widened to encompass irregularities in JSSC, JPSC, Bihar police recruitment and teacher recruitment exams, becoming a nationwide movement.
The protests started on June 20 at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, led by 30-year-old Abhijit Deepak. On June 28, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk launched an indefinite hunger strike that lasted 26 days. Following the CJP's "Chalo Parliament" march on July 20, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned—a major victory for protesters who questioned whether one minister's departure would address systemic failures.
Ranchi witnessed the most intense protests. The JPSC-JSSC recruitment exam controversy sparked the largest movement on July 25, with students demanding exam cancellation, CBI investigation, and systemic reforms.
