Thousands of young protesters across India have vowed to sustain pressure on the government after a wave of demonstrations forced the resignation of Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan.
Pradhan stepped down on Saturday following nationwide protests sparked by the cancellation of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), India’s largest medical entrance examination, after allegations of a question paper leak.
The scandal affected nearly two million candidates and triggered widespread outrage, with families blaming the controversy for a series of student suicides. Many young Indians described the minister’s resignation as a rare victory for public protests under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.
“For the first time, it felt like we can make things happen through protests,” a 22-year-old student activist, Sakhi, told the BBC.
The demonstrations were largely coordinated through social media, particularly Instagram, where videos of police confrontations, arrests and protest activities attracted millions of views.
The movement gained momentum after police forcibly removed educator Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike demanding education reforms. Images and videos of the crackdown spread online, drawing more support for the protests.
Another protester, Somaya Korde, said the minister’s resignation should not be seen as the end of the campaign.
“This is not the end, but just the beginning. There are larger issues to talk about, and we will talk about them,” she said.
Many participants argue that the exam scandal reflects deeper problems within India’s education system, including repeated paper leaks, rising privatization of schools and universities, and limited employment opportunities for
