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'The fear killed her': How an exam scandal in India sparked a student uprising

The prospect of retaking one of India's most competitive exams was so daunting for 19-year-old Sheikh Sana that a day before the test, the pressure became unbearable. Instead of preparing again for the exam, she wrote "I am sorry" on a plain sheet of paper and took her own life, her family said. Her death, along with the suicides of other aspiring students ​who sat medical college entrance exams only to face retakes after it emerged that test papers had been leaked, has become a focus for thousands of young protesters demanding accountability from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. On Saturday, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned over ‌the protests. About two months of protests have evolved from demands for action over the leaks into a broader expression of frustration over education, opportunity and accountability in a country where 65% of the population is under the age of 35. More than two million students sat the pen-and-paper...
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India's education minister resigns after youth protests

Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday he had resigned, handing a major victory to youth protesters nationwide who had demanded that he quit to take responsibility for examination paper leaks. The minister announced his resignation on X just as police fired tear gas to scatter young protesters in New Delhi, hours before their leaders were set to hold another round of talks with ministers. "Considering the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country, so that anti-national forces do not take advantage of this situation ... I have sent my resignation letter to the Prime Minister," Pradhan wrote in his post. "I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations of the country's youth." Cheers erupted among the thousands of protesters who have been rallying in central Delhi and elsewhere as the news spread. Federal authorities have restricted access to the internet and to 18 metro stations to try to limit the protest in the capital. India's Modi under pressure The Indian government was set to begin a fresh round of talks on Saturday with leaders of a Gen Z protest that led to disruptions ​in the capital this week, as demonstrators press a demand for the education minister ‌to resign. The protests represent the biggest youth challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he came to power in 2014, their demands echoed by opposition parties, which disrupted parliament's monsoon session that began this week. Thousands of supporters of the ​Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) rallied in central Delhi despite the fourth day of closure of the city's ​18 metro stations, as authorities tried to limit access to the protest site. "They ⁠have given us a time between 3.30pm and 4:00pm today," said Ashutosh Ranka, ​the party's national spokesperson. "We need clarity on Dharmendra Pradhan's future," he added, referring to the education minister, ​whom students want to see take responsibility for flaws in the examination system. Read: Actor Imran Khan, singer Arijit Singh join celebrities backing New Delhi student protests "Will the government seek his resignation or not? We want a yes or no answer." Supporters of India's Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) attend the ongoing protest, days after thousands of protesters marched towards parliament demanding the resignation of Education Minister on July 25, 2026. Photo: REUTERS Anger has boiled over since police cracked down on Monday, injuring ​many students after they launched baton charges and fired tear gas to deter tens of thousands ​of protesters marching on parliament. The protests, led largely by young people, reflect anger over job scarcity, corruption and government ‌accountability, ⁠widening since they were unleashed by discontent over leaks of question papers for high-stakes entrance exams. At Friday's talks, party representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka warned federal ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh that the protests could spread unless Pradhan stepped down. Read more: Pakistani celebrities also voice support for Indian students amid reform protests Those talks came hours after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a ​26-day hunger strike, raising hopes ​for a breakthrough. The ⁠government extended a mobile internet shutdown in the area for the fifth straight day on Saturday, two sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Protesters aired ​frustration over the extended shutdown but vowed not to let it weaken ​their movement. "They ⁠can shut down internet, metros and buses, but what will that achieve? Nothing. People who want to join the protest will still come," said Rahul Raj, a 34-year-old protester at the site. Also read: India bans march on parliament The protests were ⁠galvanised by ​leaks of question papers for medical school entrance examinations that ​forced more than 2 million candidates to retake tests, exposing shortcomings in the education system. Protesters are demanding the education minister's ​resignation and sweeping exam reforms.

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