NEW DELHI — Streets around the center of India’s capital have become the scene of large demonstrations led largely by young people demanding reforms to the country’s competitive examination system.

The protests have focused on allegations of examination paper leaks and irregularities, particularly involving highly competitive entrance tests such as the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, or NEET. Protesters say failures in the system have put millions of students at an unfair disadvantage after years of preparation.

Tensions escalated on July 20 when protesters attempted to march from Jantar Mantar toward Parliament. Police had imposed restrictions on the demonstration and declared the march unlawful. Tear gas and batons were used as security forces moved to disperse the crowd.

Leaders of the protest movement said about 150 demonstrators were taken to hospitals after the confrontation. Delhi Police separately said 118 police personnel were injured during what authorities described as violent protests. The competing accounts reflect the sharp dispute over what happened during the march.

Despite the confrontation, protesters returned to Jantar Mantar the following day and rebuilt a temporary camp that had been removed by authorities. Some demonstrators displayed injuries they said they suffered during the previous day’s clashes.

The movement is being led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-driven organization that began as a satirical political project before becoming a prominent vehicle for anger over India’s education system. Its central demands include accountability over alleged examination leaks, reforms to the testing system and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The controversy has struck a particularly sensitive nerve among young Indians. Competitive examinations can determine access to medical schools, universities and government careers, while students and families often spend years and significant amounts of money preparing for them.

For protesters, allegations that examination papers were leaked have therefore become more than an administrative issue. They say the incidents undermine confidence in a system that is supposed to determine opportunities on the basis of merit.

The demonstrations have also attracted established opposition politicians. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was briefly detained after staging a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence and demanding action over the issue. Opposition parties have used the controversy to criticize the government’s handling of examination security and education policy.

The government has maintained that measures are being taken to protect students and prevent future leaks. Modi did not initially respond directly to the protesters’ broader demands, but a message delivered through the parliamentary affairs minister said the government was committed to preventing further examination paper leaks.

The protests have also drawn attention because they are occurring against a wider backdrop of youth unemployment and concerns about access to education and employment. The CJP’s unusual origins as an online satirical movement have helped it attract attention beyond traditional political organizations.

The confrontation in Delhi has raised broader questions about the relationship between India’s young population and its political establishment. Reuters reported that the protests have provided opposition parties with an opportunity to challenge the government, while analysts noted that increased political involvement could also shift attention away from the students’ original demands.

By late July, the demonstrations had continued for weeks and expanded beyond their initial focus on examination leaks. Students and supporters continued to gather at Jantar Mantar, while authorities, opposition politicians and government officials faced growing pressure to respond.

The episode illustrates how an issue that began with concerns over examination integrity has developed into a broader public debate over accountability, education and opportunities for India’s younger generation.

Sources: CNN — Why political fury is boiling over on the streets of India’s capital