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| Students gather during protests over the NEET examination paper leak in New Delhi as the Indian government moves forward with education reforms following weeks of demonstrations. |
Modi Urges Forgiveness for Student Protesters After Exam Crisis
MUMBAI — August 1, 2026
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for forgiveness instead of punishment for students who took part in protests over a major national examination scandal, saying legal action alone will not solve the issues that led to the demonstrations.
The protests followed the leak of question papers for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), forcing authorities to hold a new examination for around two million students. The incident triggered widespread public anger and became one of the biggest political challenges of Modi's third term.
Authorities filed cases against hundreds of protesters after demonstrations turned violent in some areas. Some protesters clashed with security forces and directed abusive slogans at the prime minister during rallies.
In a video shared on social media, Modi described many of the protesters as young people who had been misled. He said it was the responsibility of society to guide them rather than subject them to lengthy court cases or social punishment. He also expressed hope that others would support his call for forgiveness.
The protests spread across several parts of India, including the capital, New Delhi. Security forces used tear gas and batons to stop demonstrators attempting to march toward parliament during some of the largest gatherings.
The student movement ended after the education minister resigned and the government accepted the protesters' key demands. These included reforms to the national examination system and a commitment to withdraw police cases related to the demonstrations.
However, the group leading the protests, the self-named Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), later claimed that hundreds of students remained under arrest in different states despite government assurances that legal cases would be dropped. Officials have not publicly addressed those claims.
The examination scandal has also prompted the government to introduce legislation that would strengthen penalties for examination paper leaks. The proposed law includes longer prison sentences and higher financial penalties for those found responsible for compromising public examinations.
The government says the proposed reforms are intended to restore confidence in India's examination system and prevent similar incidents in the future.
