A man holds a poster as he participates in a demonstration held in solidarity with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, which demand the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper leaks, in Kolkata, India.
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 Dharmendra Pradhan over National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination paper leaks, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India July 25, 2026. 
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 Dharmendra Pradhan over National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination paper leaks, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India July 25, 2026. 
Supporters of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) shout slogans as they take part in the ongoing protest, days after thousands of protesters marched towards parliament demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination paper leaks, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India July 25, 2026. 
J.P. Nadda, India’s one of senior federal ministers, leaves after holding talks with spokespersons from Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), days after thousands of protesters marched towards parliament demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination paper leaks, outside the Constitution club in New Delhi, India.
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 Dharmendra Pradhan over National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination paper leaks, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India July 25, 2026.
NEW DELHI, July 25 (Reuters) – 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 3.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. 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.
“Will the government seek his resignation or not? We want a yes or no answer.”
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 J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh the protests could spread unless Pradhan stepped down.
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.
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.
Reporting by Saurabh Sharma Bhawika Chhabra in New Delhi; Editing by Clarence Fernandez.
