Thousands of students and supporters gathered in New Delhi as protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 examination paper leak intensified, with opposition leader Rahul Gandhi joining demonstrations demanding accountability from the government.
The protesters are calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, arguing that repeated examination irregularities have undermined confidence in India's highly competitive education system.
Heavy security was deployed around central Delhi as police erected barricades and restricted access to key roads leading toward Parliament.
Footage from the scene showed demonstrators chanting slogans and attempting to march despite restrictions, while police worked to prevent the crowd from moving forward. Reports indicated clashes at several locations during the protest.
Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders accused the government of failing to protect students' interests and called for a full parliamentary debate into the alleged examination paper leak.
The government has rejected opposition criticism, saying it is prepared to discuss the issue in Parliament while defending its handling of the controversy.
The student-led movement has grown into one of India's largest youth protests in recent years, drawing nationwide attention and increasing political pressure over education reforms and examination transparency.
