Hundreds of students and young activists gathered under heavy police presence, banging steel plates and spoons while carrying placards criticizing the government’s handling of public examinations. Security forces deployed additional personnel, surveillance cameras and drones to monitor the demonstration.

The protest centered on the alleged leak of question papers for a nationwide medical entrance examination last month through the messaging platform Telegram. Authorities subsequently postponed the examination, temporarily blocked access to Telegram in India and launched an investigation. The exam has been rescheduled for Sunday.

The utensil-banging demonstration appeared to mock Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2020 appeal for Indians to applaud frontline health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic by striking pots and pans from balconies and rooftops.

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party and a political communications strategist studying at Boston University, urged supporters through social media to bring plates and spoons to the protest. Addressing the gathering, Dipke called for Pradhan’s resignation and said the movement was willing to engage in dialogue with the government if the minister stepped down.

“This is just the beginning,” protester Deepak Kumar said. “If Dharmendra Pradhan doesn’t resign or if no action is taken regarding this issue, this protest will not end here.”

Students at the demonstration expressed frustration over recurring allegations of examination leaks and concerns about fairness in competitive recruitment and admission processes.

“We study in poverty, live in poverty for years, and after that our exam papers get leaked,” said student Vicky Kumar. “Will I not get angry at this?”

The Cockroach Janta Party emerged in May after comments by Supreme Court Judge Surya Kant comparing some unemployed young people to “cockroaches” sparked criticism online. Supporters adopted the term as a symbol of resilience and transformed it into a political movement that has gained significant traction on social media.

According to organizers, the movement has attracted more than 22 million followers on Instagram. Initially focused on youth unemployment, it has broadened its agenda to include concerns about rising living costs, governance and public accountability.

The movement’s rapid growth reflects mounting frustration among sections of India’s youth over employment opportunities and institutional transparency. Its blend of satire, internet culture and political messaging has helped it gain visibility, particularly among younger voters and students.

The government has said the examination leak is under investigation. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has not publicly responded to Saturday’s protest.

The movement, founded by political communications strategist Abhijeet Dipke, has attracted more than 22 million followers in less than a month and gained traction among young Indians frustrated by job shortages and repeated controversies surrounding competitive examinations.

Hundreds gathered at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar protest site, many wearing cockroach masks and carrying books, to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over recurring exam paper leaks that protesters say have undermined opportunities for students.

The movement emerged after Chief Justice Surya Kant compared critics and some unemployed youth to cockroaches during a court hearing in May. Although the judge later said his remarks had been taken out of context, activists adopted the term as a symbol of protest.

Participants said the demonstration reflected wider concerns over youth unemployment, governance and educational reforms. According to a recent State of Working India report by Azim Premji University, 67 percent of unemployed Indians aged 20 to 29 are graduates, up from 32 percent in 2004.

Supporters described the protest as the beginning of a broader youth-led campaign that could expand beyond education issues to address other social and economic concerns.

Police maintained a heavy presence around the protest venue, while organizers urged participants to keep the movement peaceful and focused on accountability and reform.