Youth Group Stages First Street Protest in New Delhi Over Jobs and Exam Leaks

Hundreds of young people gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 6, 2026, for the first street demonstration organized by the Cockroach Janta Party. Participants wore cockroach masks and held signs calling for the education minister's resignation and accountability for repeated exam leaks.

India's unemployment rate for people ages 15 to 29 stands near 15 percent, about three times the national average. Parliamentary records show more than 220 million applications were filed for central government jobs between 2014 and 2022, with fewer than 750,000 candidates recommended for appointment.

Last month, authorities canceled the national medical entrance exam taken by more than 2 million students after questions were allegedly leaked. Nineteen-year-old student Anulikha Dhawan traveled from Punjab to attend the Delhi protest, citing repeated scandals and limited job prospects for graduates.

Dipke told a June 9 news conference that future demonstrations will remain peaceful and constitutional. Additional protests are scheduled in Lucknow on June 13 and were held in Pune on June 11. University of Delhi professor Apoorvanand noted that the movement has tapped into existing frustration but said it remains unclear whether participants will sustain long-term organizing across class, caste, and religious lines.