[ISAFIS News #20] India’s “Cockroach Movement” Challenges Modi Government

Written by: Farrel Ananda Arkent Staff of Research and Discussion

On June 6, 2026, India experienced a surge of public unrest as young protesters gathered at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to demand accountability over irregularities in the country’s competitive examinations. The protest was led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), also known as the Cockroach Movement, and grew into a wider youth-led campaign that eventually contributed to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on July 25.

Image 1. Protesters dressed as cockroaches during a demonstration, using the insect as a symbol of the youth-led movement
Source: Getty Images

This youth-led movement emerged from online satire, memes, and internet culture before evolving into a broader national campaign. The movement’s provocative name was a satirical reference to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reportedly inspired by remarks made by Chief Justice Surya Kant, who referred to unemployed youth and activists as “cockroaches” and “parasites of society”. 

The movement was fuelled by growing anger over irregularities in India’s national examination system, particularly the 2026 National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET-UG) paper leak and problems with the Central Board of Secondary Education On-Screen Marking system for Grade 12 examinations, including blurred scans, missing pages, and mismatched sheets. The NEET-UG controversy was especially significant, as the examination serves as a major pathway into medical education with more than two million students affected by the crisis. 

On May 12, amid paper leak allegations, the government announced that the NEET-UG examination held nine days earlier had been voided and would be conducted again. The decision intensified anxiety among students competing for limited medical school places. Ahead of the re-examination, 12 students reportedly died by suicide within 37 days with the toll later rising to nearly 20 according to CJP spokesperson Saurav Das.

The CJP and protesters demanded Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, reforms to the national examination system, and 10 million rupees in compensation for families of students who died by suicide in cases linked to the NEET crisis. The protests gained further national attention after activist Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike on June 28. After a week of mass demonstrations, Pradhan resigned, submitting his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and marking a major victory for the youth-led movement that had emerged as a growing challenge to the government. 

The movement, however, did not end with Pradhan’s resignation. In late July, the CJP threatened to resume protests, accusing the government of breaking its promise to protect protesters from retaliation after hundreds of students were reportedly detained in several states. The group demanded the release of those arrested and the withdrawal of cases against protesters, keeping pressure on the government over its remaining demands.

India’s examination crisis has developed over several years, with repeated concerns about paper leaks, cheating, and the fairness of competitive examinations. However, the CJP protests also reflected wider concerns among Indian youth, including unemployment, limited economic opportunities, and uncertainty about their future. Similar concerns have fuelled Gen Z-led protests across Asia, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Nepal, where young people have used social media, memes, and street demonstrations to challenge government policies.

References
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