The Indian government announced a cabinet meeting to discuss a new bill on paper-leak offenses and take strict action against protesters in New Delhi [1].
This move signals a hardening stance by the administration against activists challenging the integrity of national examinations. The legislative response aims to curb the recurring issue of exam leaks that have sparked widespread student unrest across the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "हमारी सरकार लेगी सख्त एक्शन" (Our government will take strict action) [1]. The Union Cabinet scheduled the meeting for 1 p.m. to deliberate on the anti-leak legislation [1].
These government actions coincide with ongoing demonstrations by the CJP, or Cocker-People’s Party, at Jantar Mantar. The group is protesting alleged leaks in the NEET and other competitive examinations. Protest leader Sonam Wangchuk said, "हमारा हंगर स्ट्राइक जारी रहेगा" (Our hunger strike will continue) [3].
To manage the situation at the protest site, the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered a temporary suspension of mobile internet services. A spokesperson for the ministry said that services would be shut down within a 1.5 km radius of Jantar Mantar [2].
This internet blackout was scheduled to last from 4 p.m. until 12 midnight [2]. The measure is intended to prevent the coordination of further protests, and the spread of potentially inflammatory information in the immediate vicinity of the demonstrations [2].
While some reports focus on the detention of students by Delhi police, the government's primary focus remains the introduction of more rigorous legal penalties for those involved in exam paper leaks [1].
“"Our government will take strict action"”
The simultaneous introduction of stricter legislation and the use of internet shutdowns suggests the Indian government is prioritizing a security-first approach to the exam-leak crisis. By targeting the legal loopholes of paper leaks while restricting the communication tools of protesters, the administration is attempting to resolve the systemic failure of the exam process without conceding to the demands of the street demonstrations.
