India NEET exam protest at Jantar Mantar

Following the advisories issued by Delhi University and JNU on July 23, the Jantar Mantar protest continued unabated. On July 25 Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation, prompting celebratory chants among demonstrators. Police maintained a heavy presence, deploying tear‑gas, baton and pellet‑gun rounds during the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march and erecting extensive barricades; more than 130 officers and dozens of protesters were injured. The United Nations reiterated the right to peaceful assembly and urged authorities to protect demonstrators. The unrest spread to other Indian cities and diaspora gatherings abroad. Social‑media attention intensified after a video of a young protester using a thermocol pad, helmet and flower garland as self‑defence gear went viral, sparking debate over police tactics. Opposition leaders, notably Rahul Gandhi, condemned the university advisories and police actions as attempts to silence democratic rights, while the Association of Indian Universities called on students to focus on studies. The episode underscores the escalating clash between student demands for exam integrity and institutional efforts to ensure safety and legal compliance.