Archive · 25 Jul 2026
Modi Government Retreats on Key Issues
The Modi government has had to back down on three big issues in the last 12 years.
First, they changed their plans for the NRC after many people protested against the CAA.
Then, they took back three farm laws after farmers protested for almost a year.
Now, a minister had to resign because students were upset about exam paper leaks.
Each time, the government waited until the protests got too big to ignore before they changed their minds.
This shows that even a strong government has to listen when lots of people are unhappy.
The Modi government has retreated on three key issues due to public pressure: the CAA-NRC, farm laws, and paper leak protests.
The government initially resisted protests but eventually backed down when the political cost became too high.
The CAA-NRC protests led to the government softening its stance on the NRC.
Farmers protested for nearly a year, leading to the repeal of the three farm laws.
Students demanded the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged paper leaks in competitive exams.
- Who
- The Modi government and various protest groups, including farmers, students, and civil society members.
- What
- The Modi government has retreated on three key issues: the CAA-NRC, farm laws, and paper leak protests.
- When
- The retreats occurred over the past 12 years, with the most recent being the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.
- Where
- The protests and retreats have taken place across India, with significant mobilisation in major cities and rural areas.
- Why
- The government retreated due to sustained public pressure and the political cost of standing firm on these issues.
Government's Position
Public Protests
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC
Government's Position
The government initially defended the CAA and NRC, but later softened its stance on NRC due to widespread protests.
Public Protests
Protesters saw the CAA and NRC as discriminatory and a threat to the secular fabric of India, leading to mass mobilisation.
Farm Laws
Government's Position
The government initially believed it could outlast the farmers' protests and framed the movement as politically engineered.
Public Protests
Farmers protested for nearly a year, demanding the repeal of the laws, which they saw as detrimental to their livelihoods.
Paper Leak Protests
Government's Position
The government initially tried to manage the protests through standard political negotiation, but the decentralised nature of the protests made it difficult.
Public Protests
Protesters, primarily students, demanded the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing the government of failing to prevent paper leaks.
- Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
- A law that provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for persecuted non-Muslim migrants from neighbouring countries.
- National Register of Citizens (NRC)
- A proposed nationwide register to identify illegal immigrants, which was put on hold due to protests.
- Farm Laws
- Three agricultural laws introduced by the government in 2020, which were repealed in 2021 after widespread protests.
- Paper Leak Protests
- Protests by students demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged paper leaks in competitive exams.
- M J Akbar
- A former junior external affairs minister who resigned in 2018 following sexual harassment allegations.
Sources
Dharmendra Pradhan’s exit affirms the young have been heard, larger listening needs to begin
'Pradhan should've resigned earlier': SP chief Akhilesh Yadav questions Centre's delay
NRC, farm laws to Pradhan exit: The three times Modi government has retreated
Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned, but deeper problem remains: Youth unemployment
Decoding Pradhan’s resignation: Why the government relented and who could replace him