Modi seeks to drop cases against student exam protesters

The crisis, marking the most significant political challenge of Modi’s third term, ignited in July when the compromise of national testing affected two million students. The resulting fallout highlighted deeper frustrations regarding youth unemployment and systemic failures. While authorities initially responded with tear gas and baton charges in New Delhi, the government eventually conceded to demands for exam reforms and the resignation of the education minister.

Despite these concessions, the 'Cockroach Janta Party' reported that hundreds of students remain entangled in police cases across multiple states. Modi’s recent video address seeks to pivot from this confrontation, framing the agitators as misled youth rather than criminals. In tandem with this conciliatory rhetoric, the government is moving to tighten national regulations, proposing a new bill that mandates harsher prison sentences and significant financial penalties for anyone caught leaking examination papers.