Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Gen Z Sees Delhi, Jharkhand Protests Through A Different Lens
Some young people in India were asked what they think about two big student protests.
One happened in Delhi, at a place called Jantar Mantar, because a big test called NEET had a paper leak.
Another happened in the state of Jharkhand, because a test called JPSC also had a paper leak.
The young people said the two protests are not the same, because one test is for the whole country and the other is only for one state.
They noticed that popular leaders and celebrities supported the Delhi protest at Jantar Mantar, but not many supported the protest in Jharkhand.
Some young people said political parties like Congress and the AAP only support protests that help them win votes.
Others said leaders should be fair and support both protests equally.
The students in Jharkhand have been protesting for nearly three weeks, asking for fair exams.
The young people said leaders should care about students everywhere, not only where cameras are.
Gen Z students in Bhopal and Indore, Madhya Pradesh, say the CJP-led protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi cannot be compared with the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch-led protest in Jharkhand because one is a national issue and the other is state-level.
Students said the NEET paper leak and the JPSC paper leak cannot be treated on a par.
Students said key Opposition parties such as the Indian National Congress (Congress) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are not as enthusiastically participating in the Jharkhand protest as they did in the Jantar Mantar protest.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal openly supported the Jantar Mantar protest, while Rahul Gandhi has largely limited himself to tweets about the Jharkhand issue, according to student Mahak Pandey.
The nearly three-week-old Jharkhand protest received far less media and celebrity attention than the Delhi protest, leading Gen Z respondents to question selective solidarity.
- Who
- Gen Z students in Bhopal and Indore, Madhya Pradesh; prominent figures Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal; the CJP-led protest at Jantar Mantar and the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch protest in Jharkhand.
- What
- Students compared the two protests over the NEET and JPSC paper leaks, observing differences in political support, media coverage and celebrity participation.
- When
- At the time of reporting, with the Jharkhand protest ongoing for nearly three weeks (described as 19 days by one respondent).
- Where
- Bhopal and Indore, Madhya Pradesh; the protests are taking place at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and in Jharkhand.
- Why
- Students are demanding that competitive examinations be conducted fairly and without irregularities after the NEET and JPSC paper leaks.
Different-issues view
Selective-solidarity view
Comparing the Delhi and Jharkhand protests
Different-issues view
The protests cannot be compared: the CJP-led Jantar Mantar protest in Delhi addressed the national NEET paper leak, while the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch protest in Jharkhand is a state-level issue, so the NEET and JPSC paper leaks should not be treated on a par.
Selective-solidarity view
Both involve students demanding fair competitive examinations, so the nearly three-week-old Jharkhand protest deserves the same public scrutiny, media visibility and celebrity support as the Jantar Mantar protest.
Role of political parties
Different-issues view
Political parties have their own agendas and work according to their perception of what will help them win public support, so they cannot be expected to have the same attitude towards every protest.
Selective-solidarity view
Opposition parties should speak up about both protests; stronger support from Congress and AAP for Jantar Mantar while participating less enthusiastically in Jharkhand looks like double standards and vote-bank politics.
- Respondents' locations
- Bhopal and Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- Delhi protest
- CJP-led protest at Jantar Mantar; one student said anti-national slogans were raised there
- Jharkhand protest
- Led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch; described as purely apolitical by one student
- Duration of Jharkhand protest
- Nearly three weeks (19 days, per one respondent)
- Exams with leaked papers
- NEET (national) and JPSC (state-level)
- Public figures who supported the Jantar Mantar protest
- Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal
- Rahul Gandhi's Jharkhand response
- Largely limited to tweets, per student Mahak Pandey
- Respondents' ages
- 20 to 30 years