India is experiencing its largest wave of student protests in recent years, reports infohub.kz, citing Bloomberg.
The protests were sparked by a scandal surrounding the national medical college entrance exam. After exam materials were leaked, authorities annulled the results of 2.2 million applicants and scheduled a retake. For many, the retake resulted in lower scores, effectively dashing their hopes of admission.
The protest movement has been dubbed the "Cockroach Party," after India's chief justice compared unemployed youth to cockroaches. The remark went viral and became a symbol of the protests sweeping New Delhi and other cities.
Despite rapid economic growth, youth unemployment remains a pressing issue. Studies show that in 2025, only about 4% of graduates secured formal jobs with social benefits, while roughly 8 million young professionals enter the labor market each year.
Following mass demonstrations, authorities pledged to hold those responsible for the leak accountable and promised to review protesters' demands.