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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced the creation of fast-track courts to ensure “swift and stringent punishment” for those involved in examination paper leaks, responding for the first time to weeks of nationwide student-led protests over alleged irregularities in the country’s examination system.
“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth,” Modi said in a post on X. “We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. I have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regard.”
He also warned that those attempting to “harm the future of our youth” would not be spared.
The announcement came after thousands of demonstrators, led by the social media-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, staged another major protest in New Delhi on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of the education minister over repeated exam paper leaks.
The protest briefly turned violent as demonstrators clashed with police. Officers fired tear gas and used batons to disperse the crowd after protesters attempted to march through parts of the capital, according to police and eyewitnesses.
Local media estimated that more than 10,000 people gathered at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi’s main protest site, where CJP leaders vowed to continue demonstrations until the education minister steps down.
The latest unrest follows Monday’s massive march towards Parliament during the opening of the monsoon session, when police used tear gas and baton charges to stop tens of thousands of protesters. Demonstrators responded by throwing stones, resulting in one of the largest street protests in the Indian capital in nearly five years.
Police said at least 178 people, including security personnel, were injured in the violence.
The protests were initially sparked by alleged examination paper leaks affecting around two million students in May. Public anger intensified after a leaked medical entrance examination forced more than two million candidates to retake the test. Another controversy over the online evaluation of examinations taken by nearly two million high school students further eroded confidence in India’s examination system.
The Cockroach Janta Party movement first emerged in May as a satirical online campaign after reports that Chief Justice Surya Kant referred to young people as “cockroaches” and “parasites” during a court hearing. It has since evolved into a broader youth movement highlighting unemployment, limited opportunities for young people and what protesters describe as the Modi government’s increasingly authoritarian approach.
The demonstrations have become one of the most significant political challenges facing Modi since he secured a third consecutive term as prime minister in 2024. While the government’s announcement of fast-track courts aims to restore public confidence in the examination system, CJP leaders have indicated that their protests will continue until broader demands for accountability are addressed.