Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, July 23rd, 2026, vowed to impose "stringent punishment" on those involved in exam fraud that has ignited mass student protests across India. In a social media post, Modi emphasized, "Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth," and pledged to establish fast-track courts to swiftly punish those responsible for leaking exam question papers.

The announcement followed large-scale protests on Wednesday, July 22nd, led by the social media-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in New Delhi, which resulted in fresh clashes with police. The protests, primarily involving young students, have been ongoing since last month, demanding the resignation of the education minister over the exam paper leaks.

Violence escalated on Monday, July 20th, when police fired tear gas and baton-charged tens of thousands of demonstrators attempting to march to parliament during the opening day of the monsoon session. According to police reports, at least 178 people, including security personnel, were injured in the confrontations.

The CJP movement, which has millions of followers on social media, originated in May as a satirical response to remarks by Chief Justice Surya Kant, who reportedly likened young people to "cockroaches" and "parasites" during a court hearing.

These protests represent one of the most significant challenges to Hindu-nationalist Modi since his re-election for a third term in 2024. Modi warned, "Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared," signaling a firm stance against the exam fraud scandal fueling the unrest.

Sources