Student protest in India escalates as Gen Z demands Modi’s resignation over exam leak scandal

Thousands of student protesters have established a sustained presence in India's capital, pressing for the education minister's resignation while broadening calls to include Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.

The movement, which emerged from the satirical Cockroach Janta Party, has extracted a public commitment from Modi to address allegations of exam paper leaks affecting national education. Opposition parties have aligned with the demonstrators, amplifying pressure on the government.

The protest centers on what students describe as systemic failures in exam administration. The leaked papers have fueled broader discontent among Gen Z voters about educational integrity and institutional accountability. Organizers say a further demand—calling for Modi's resignation—signals the movement's expansion beyond the original education ministry focus.

Modi's statement promising action represents a tactical acknowledgment of the protest's political weight. The opposition's decision to back the students rather than distance themselves indicates the government faces cross-party pressure on an issue affecting millions of test-takers.

The scale of the encampment in New Delhi and the movement's ability to extract government assurances suggest the protest has moved beyond typical student activism into territory that unsettles the ruling administration. Whether the promised action satisfies protesters or escalates tensions remains uncertain.