Sit-in withdrawn on 25 July after talks with the Centre
Jantar Mantar, June–July 2026
What happened at Jantar Mantar — demands, outcomes, and sources.
A record of what happened, what was demanded, and what followed.
From June to July 2026, thousands of students and youth held a sit-in at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The demonstration was led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led satirical movement, alongside student organisations including SFI, AISA, and AISF. CJP withdrew the sit-in on 25 July 2026 after talks with the Centre.
Key figures included CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, activist Sonam Wangchuk (who held a 26-day hunger strike from 28 June to 24 July), and CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The protest drew support from students, parents, teachers, and opposition parties across India.
On 20 July 2026, protesters marched from Jantar Mantar toward Parliament during the monsoon session in what was called the 'Chalo Sansad' (March to Parliament) movement. The march led to clashes with police. Allegations of police excesses that day are being examined by a Supreme Court–appointed enquiry committee.
The protests were sparked by the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and CBSE on-screen marking irregularities. Millions of students had to re-sit exams, and many families alleged the system had failed them repeatedly over decades.
Protesters demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and CBSE marking irregularities. Pradhan resigned on 25 July 2026; Pralhad Joshi took additional charge of the education portfolio.
Protesters sought ₹1 crore compensation for families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide following the alleged paper leak. The Centre accepted compensation in principle. On 1 September 2026, the Supreme Court recorded the Centre’s undertaking to formulate a pan-India compensation policy within 90 days (roughly late November 2026) and then arrange payment without delay. The amount and eligibility criteria have not yet been announced.
Protesters sought an unequivocal assurance that students and youth who participated in peaceful protests would not face retaliatory legal action. On 1 September 2026, the Supreme Court quashed FIRs linked to the 20–25 July protests nationwide and barred fresh FIRs over the same incidents. Exception: Delhi Police may proceed against 2,873 people identified with serious criminal antecedents.
Protesters sought broader reforms in public examinations to prevent future paper leaks. The government agreed to consider CJP’s five-point exam reform charter. A high-powered NTA task force under Nandan Nilekani was announced, and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was tabled. The charter itself has not been implemented.
In May 2026, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made remarks comparing unemployed youth to 'cockroaches' and 'parasites.' Abhijeet Dipke founded the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) as a satirical response. The movement quickly gained millions of followers on social media.
On 6 June 2026, Dipke launched the first street protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding accountability over exam irregularities. The movement transitioned from memes and digital campaigns into sustained offline demonstrations.
On 28 June, Ladakhi activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest and began an indefinite hunger strike, bringing national and international attention to the movement.
On 18 July, Wangchuk was forcibly hospitalized after 20 days of fasting. Dipke began his own hunger strike in response. On 20 July, the Chalo Sansad march toward Parliament drew large crowds and led to clashes with police.
On 24 July, Wangchuk ended his 26-day fast after written assurances from Union ministers on compensation, no cases against peaceful protesters, and parliamentary discussion of exam reforms. On 25 July, after Pradhan’s resignation and a third round of talks, CJP withdrew the Jantar Mantar sit-in in good faith.
In August, the CBI filed a chargesheet against 13 accused in the NEET-UG 2026 paper-leak case (now before Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court), and the Supreme Court constituted a high-powered enquiry committee headed by former Justice R. Subhash Reddy to probe alleged police excesses on 20 July. On 1 September, the Court quashed protest-related FIRs nationwide and recorded a 90-day compensation-policy undertaking; CJP cancelled its planned 5 September march.