Modi vows punishment for exam fraud fueling India protests

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed "stringent punishment" on Thursday for those behind exam paper leaks that have fueled student protests, in his first direct comments on demonstrations challenging his government.

The remarks followed a New Delhi rally led by the Cockroach Janta Party that triggered fresh clashes with police on Wednesday.

What is behind India's exam paper leak protests?

Student protests erupted over leaked exam papers that undermined trust in India's testing system, including a medical entrance test that forced more than 2 million candidates to retake it. Demonstrators, organized under the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, have demanded the education minister's resignation since last month.

A separate dispute over the online marking of exams taken by nearly 2 million high school students has added to the anger. Together, the two incidents have deepened public doubts about the fairness of India's exam system.

Why did the exam fraud protests escalate this week?

Protests intensified on Monday after police fired tear gas and baton-charged tens of thousands of demonstrators marching toward parliament on the opening day of India's monsoon session. Protesters responded by hurling stones, turning the demonstration into the largest street rally in the capital in about five years. At least 178 people, including security personnel, were injured in the clashes, according to police.

Thousands of protesters rallied again in New Delhi on Wednesday under the Cockroach Janta Party banner, triggering fresh confrontations with police. The unrest marks one of the biggest challenges to Modi's Hindu-nationalist government since his re-election to a third term in 2024.

What did Modi say about the exam fraud?

Modi addressed the protests directly for the first time on Thursday, vowing "stringent punishment" for those responsible for the paper leaks. He said the government would set up fast-track courts to deliver swift justice in such cases. "Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth," he wrote in a social media post.

Modi added that anyone found to have harmed the prospects of young people "will not be spared." His comments come as students continue to demand the resignation of the education minister over the leaks.

What is the Cockroach Janta Party?

The Cockroach Janta Party emerged in May as a satirical response after Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly compared young people to "cockroaches" and "parasites" during a court hearing. The group has since built a following of millions on social media. Its agenda has since expanded beyond exam fraud to include unemployment, opportunities for young people and what it calls Modi's increasingly authoritarian style of governance.