Kejriwal visited Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar, where the activist has been observing an indefinite hunger strike over issues linked to the NEET examination controversy and broader concerns about India's education system. During his visit, the former Delhi Chief Minister praised Wangchuk's commitment to students and called for immediate action from the Centre.

Addressing supporters at the protest site, Kejriwal said the country needs an education system that restores public confidence and protects students' interests. He urged the Union government to remove Dharmendra Pradhan from the Education Ministry and appoint Sonam Wangchuk in his place, arguing that the noted education reformer has consistently worked for meaningful change in the sector.

The AAP leader said repeated examination controversies have shaken the confidence of students and parents across the country. According to him, the government must engage in dialogue with those raising concerns instead of ignoring their demands.

Wangchuk has been on an indefinite fast since late June in support of students protesting alleged examination irregularities. The movement has attracted growing public attention, with several political leaders, activists and members of the film industry extending support over the past few days.

The Delhi High Court has also taken note of Wangchuk's deteriorating health during the prolonged fast. The court directed authorities to monitor his medical condition regularly and intervene if doctors consider it necessary, while allowing the protest to continue within legal and medical safeguards.

Political reactions to Kejriwal's remarks have intensified the debate over the ongoing protest. While the AAP has reiterated its demand for accountability in the education system, the Centre has not officially responded to Kejriwal's proposal regarding the Education Ministry.

The hunger strike has become one of the most closely watched public protests in recent weeks, drawing support from students, education activists and several public personalities. The protesters continue to demand greater transparency in competitive examinations and systemic reforms aimed at preventing paper leaks and restoring trust in recruitment and admission processes.

With Wangchuk's health remaining a matter of concern and political support continuing to grow, attention is now focused on whether the government initiates talks with the protesters or responds to the demands being raised at Jantar Mantar.

The Cockroach Janata Party has placed posters of students who died by suicide following the NEET paper leak, demanding ₹1 crore compensation for each family.

Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke arrived at the Jantar Mantar protest site in Delhi on Saturday, with organizers displaying posters of NEET aspirants who have died by suicide following the examination paper leak controversy.

Delhi Police has granted permission for the protest, which has drawn a significant turnout according to early visuals from the site. The demonstration comes amid growing outrage over student suicides linked to the NEET paper leak, with 13 such deaths reported across the country in the past 38 days.

Dipke's Letter to PM Modi

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, Dipke demanded ₹1 crore compensation for the families of each student who died by suicide. He also called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

"The atmosphere in the country is affecting the lives and mental health of youth," Dipke wrote in the letter, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Despite re-exams being held, student suicides have not stopped, and the government should focus on the real problem, he said. Dipke warned that if no action is taken, frustration among students and parents may increase further.

The Five Key Demands

The CJP has outlined five key demands in its protest:

1. Immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

2. ₹1 crore compensation for families of students who died by suicide

3. Comprehensive investigation into the NEET paper leak

4. Systemic reforms in the examination process

5. Mental health support for students preparing for competitive exams

Background: The Birth of CJP

The Cockroach Janta Party was launched after a controversial remark by Justice Suryakant during a court hearing on May 15, when he reportedly compared some unemployed youths to "cockroaches" who challenge the system through media, social media or RTI activism.

A day later, US-based Abhijeet Dipke launched the CJP and created social media accounts for the movement. The 30-year-old is a digital media strategist from Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra, who studied journalism in Pune and is currently pursuing a master's degree in public relations at Boston University.

On May 22, the group started an online petition seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, which it claimed received support from more than 800,000 people.

Social Media Surge

The party's social media presence grew rapidly. By June 10, its Instagram account had reportedly crossed 22.7 million followers, though the number has since fallen by around 200,000. Even after the decline, CJP's follower count remains higher than that of both the BJP and the Congress on Instagram. The group also has around 279,000 followers on X.

Appeal to Political Leaders

Dipke appealed to political leaders concerned about students' future to come forward in support. "Whatever political leaders are concerned about the future of students and believe that paper leaks are damaging the country's education system, they should come forward in support of students," he said.

He confirmed that he has not had any conversation with Rahul Gandhi regarding the issue. Dipke also criticized the political class, saying leaders have money to win over MLAs and MPs but not to help students' families.

"The education system is gradually turning into a business, and public representatives are more interested in running private institutions rather than strengthening government schools," he said.

The Toll on Students

The protest comes amid a heartbreaking toll. In the past 38 days, 13 students related to the NEET exam have died by suicide across the country. In Indore, a female student preparing for NEET fell from the third floor late Thursday night and died on Friday morning. A video of the student's fall has also surfaced.

Previous Protests

The CJP has previously held demonstrations at Jantar Mantar on June 6. The party has also organized protests in Pune, Lucknow, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jaipur and Nagpur so far.

Saturday's protest at Jantar Mantar has seen a better turnout than the previous demonstration, according to reports from the site. Supporters were seen waving the Indian flag and party flags during the protest, carrying CJP posters and placards demanding justice for students.

Agency tells Supreme Court it has ordered CCTV audits, forensic reviews and new posts for 2026 re-exam as part of wider reforms

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has told the Supreme Court it has launched a package of structural and security reforms after the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, saying CCTV audits, mock drills, forensic checks and new senior posts have been introduced ahead of the re-examination.

According to the affidavit filed in court on Friday, a High-Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) reviewed NEET-UG preparations at a meeting on April 17 and recommended a suite of measures to plug gaps before, during and after the test. The NTA said many of the recommendations are already in place or at an advanced stage of implementation for the re-exam scheduled later this year.

Tighter centre-level checks

The reforms include mandatory CCTV checks at all examination centres, with footage to be preserved for at least 90 days. The agency has also ordered detailed physical inspections of centres in the week leading up to exams, verification of power-backup systems and weather-based contingency plans, the affidavit said.

“Initial reports indicate the focus is on strengthening real-time monitoring and post-event forensic review,” a source familiar with the matter said, on condition of anonymity. The NTA also said emergency medical facilities will be required at identified larger centres, and that mock drills will be carried out to test readiness.

Forensic and post-exam reviews

In a notable change, the HPSC recommended routine forensic analysis of CCTV footage after examinations to identify anomalies or suspicious conduct that may not be apparent during live monitoring. The affidavit states the committee will reconvene after the re-examination to decide, in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, whether future NEET tests should move to a computer-based test (CBT) format or remain paper-and-pen (PPT).

Officials said the forensic audits aim to catch patterns — such as repeated camera blind spots, simultaneous irregular behaviour across centres or suspicious movement near exam halls — that would otherwise surface only after complaints. “These are additional layers of checks intended to create both deterrence and investigative capability,” an NTA official involved in operations told reporters.

Administrative restructuring

As part of broader governance reforms, the NTA has created 16 senior posts, adding director and joint-director level positions, and appointed two joint secretary-level officers as additional director generals to oversee technology operations and test security. A secretary-level officer assumed charge as director general of the NTA in March 2026, the affidavit added.

The agency said it has brought in experts from academic and administrative bodies — including IITs, the University Grants Commission (UGC), CBSE, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and IGNOU — to strengthen examination management and technical resilience.

State and district coordination

To tighten on-ground coordination, State-Level Coordination Committees (SLCCs) and District-Level Coordination Committees (DLCCs) were formed across the country. The NTA told the court that 18 SLCCs and 621 DLCCs were operational before the May 3 exam and comprise officials from local administration, police, intelligence agencies, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the testing agency.

The committees are intended to improve surveillance, logistics and rapid response during examinations, the NTA said. Local police and district administrations will oversee centre security while NIC teams assist with technical links and timely transfer of CCTV data.

Public reaction and significance

The NEET-UG 2026 leak and subsequent cancellation sparked widespread public concern and legal scrutiny, prompting petitions by groups including the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and the United Doctors Front (UDF) seeking a structural overhaul of the examination body. Petitioners had argued that systemic lapses, not isolated incidents, were to blame.

Education experts said the NTA’s moves are aimed at restoring confidence but warned implementation will be key. “Policy changes matter only if executed consistently across thousands of centres,” said an education administrator who declined to be named. “Mock drills, forensic audits and state coordination can help, but transparency about findings will be crucial.”

What’s next

The HPSC is due to meet again after the re-examination to assess the effectiveness of the measures and recommend whether a permanent shift to a CBT model is warranted. The Supreme Court will continue to monitor progress through affidavits and hearings, according to registry filings.

With the re-exam looming, the NTA faces the twin task of demonstrating operational readiness on the ground and convincing students and stakeholders that the safeguards will prevent a repeat of the disruption that upended this year’s admission cycle.