Wearing paper cockroach masks and distributing pamphlets, protesters called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has faced criticism over examination-related controversies, including question paper leaks and technical failures.
The demonstration, closely monitored by police officers equipped with riot-control gear, reflected growing frustration among students over the credibility of the country’s examination system. Among the participants was 16-year-old medical college aspirant Utkarsh Raj, who questioned how examination papers could repeatedly be leaked and demanded greater accountability from authorities.
“The youth of the country will no longer fear anyone; they will fight,” said Dipke, a former political communications strategist for the opposition Aam Aadmi Party, while addressing supporters at the rally. He described the movement’s symbol as one that does not fear and does not disappear, drawing chants from the crowd.
Participants argued that students have legitimate reasons to be angry. Twenty-year-old Sarthak, who identified himself by a single name, said India deserved better administration of critical examinations and stronger safeguards against failures that undermine public trust.
The protest follows a series of examination-related controversies. Last month, authorities cancelled the nationwide medical college entrance examination after investigators uncovered a question paper leak. Indian media reports also highlighted suicides involving teenagers following the controversy surrounding the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), one of the country’s most competitive examinations.
The controversy emerged alongside another scandal involving an online marking system used in examinations taken by nearly two million high school students. Critics argue that repeated failures have severely damaged confidence in the examination process.
Sapan Gyan, 52, who attended the protest with his sons, said young people are forced to depend on these examinations for their futures and cannot afford systems that have lost credibility.
The movement has also entered a legal battle with the government. Authorities blocked the group’s account on X within India, a decision that the Cockroach People’s Party has challenged before a court in Delhi.
Senior cabinet minister Kiren Rijiju has accused the organisation of attempting to attract followers from Pakistan and members of what he described as an “anti-India” network.
Since its launch in mid-May, the group has amassed approximately 22 million followers on Instagram, emerging as the largest online expression of dissent directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 12-year administration. Its rapid growth has been driven by concerns over persistently high youth unemployment and recurring examination paper leaks that many believe threaten the careers of millions of students.
Political analysts say the movement’s popularity has begun to affect Modi’s public image despite his party securing victories in several key state elections. The dissatisfaction has been compounded by rising fuel prices and gas shortages linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
India is home to nearly 400 million people between the ages of 15 and 29, making employment generation one of the country’s most pressing challenges. Although the economy continues to expand rapidly, creating sufficient non-farm employment opportunities remains a major concern. The urban youth unemployment rate stood at nearly 14 per cent in April, while many educated young people continue to work in low-paying or insecure jobs that do not match their qualifications.
The New Delhi protest highlights growing concerns among India’s youth over education, employment, and governance. As examination controversies continue to spark public outrage, the movement’s expanding influence underscores the increasing demand for transparency, accountability, and reforms in systems that shape the futures of millions of students.
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