For weeks now, thousands of students across India have been protesting, demanding accountability from the government over serious problems in the country’s education system. The movement, which began on June 6, 2026, is led by a youth group called the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), joined by major student organizations.
The protests started after two big scandals came to light this year. First, India’s medical entrance exam, NEET, was hit by a paper leak, forcing authorities to cancel the results of the May 3 test. Around the same time, problems emerged in how the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) marked and reviewed school exam papers, leaving many students confused and anxious about their futures. Reports say around 20 students died by suicide following the NEET leak, and protesters are now demanding compensation for their families.
The main demand is the resignation of India’s Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, whom protesters blame for these failures. The name “Cockroach” comes from a remark made by India’s Chief Justice, who compared unemployed youth to cockroaches, a comment that angered many young people and became a rallying symbol for the movement.
Over time, the protests have grown bigger, now also raising anger over youth unemployment and limited job opportunities. On July 20, protesters tried to march toward parliament but were stopped by police using tear gas and batons, leaving more than 100 people injured. Despite this crackdown, students say they will not back down, and the demonstrations continue to spread across Indian cities.
