Indian youths celebrate Minister’s exit, demand more reforms

Thousands of young protesters across India have vowed to sustain pressure on the government after a wave of demonstrations forced the resignation of Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan.

Pradhan stepped down on Saturday following nationwide protests sparked by the cancellation of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), India’s largest medical entrance examination, after allegations of a question paper leak.

The scandal affected nearly two million candidates and triggered widespread outrage, with families blaming the controversy for a series of student suicides. Many young Indians described the minister’s resignation as a rare victory for public protests under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.

“For the first time, it felt like we can make things happen through protests,” a 22-year-old student activist, Sakhi, told the BBC.

The demonstrations were largely coordinated through social media, particularly Instagram, where videos of police confrontations, arrests and protest activities attracted millions of views.

The movement gained momentum after police forcibly removed educator Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike demanding education reforms. Images and videos of the crackdown spread online, drawing more support for the protests.

Another protester, Somaya Korde, said the minister’s resignation should not be seen as the end of the campaign.

“This is not the end, but just the beginning. There are larger issues to talk about, and we will talk about them,” she said.

Many participants argue that the exam scandal reflects deeper problems within India’s education system, including repeated paper leaks, rising privatization of schools and universities, and limited employment opportunities for graduates.

Official data shows unemployment among Indians aged 15 to 29 rose to 16.2 per cent in June, compared to 13.8 per cent a year earlier.

An 18-year-old protester, Harshvardhan Kadam, whose video of an alleged police threat went viral during the demonstrations, said the movement had shown young people the power of collective action.

“This is just the start. This shows that next time the government will be scared when we raise our voices,” he said.

Despite celebrations over Pradhan’s resignation, concerns remain over possible reprisals against activists.

Authorities have reportedly charged more than 100 protesters with various offences and arrested over 40 people.

Recall that Human Rights Watch has previously accused Indian authorities of routinely targeting activists, journalists and peaceful protesters under the Modi administration.

However, many demonstrators insist the protests have reignited a culture of dissent among young Indians and could have lasting implications for the country’s political landscape ahead of future elections.