Activist and education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk has said he will join a June 6 protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar led by Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, intensifying public pressure on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination-related lapses that have affected students and families across the country.
Wangchuk made the announcement on Tuesday through a video message, saying he would take part in the mobilisation if there was no resignation or visible corrective action before June 5. His support gives the protest a wider national profile, linking student anger over paper leaks, cancellations and administrative errors with a broader demand for accountability in the education system.
Dipke, a US-based online activist and founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, has announced that he will return to Delhi on June 6 to lead what he has described as a peaceful protest. He has urged students and supporters to gather at the airport before moving towards Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site often used for political and civil society demonstrations in the capital. Dipke has said he is prepared for the possibility of arrest but intends to exercise his right to protest.
The campaign is centred on the demand that Pradhan step down over failures in the conduct and oversight of major examinations. The anger has been fuelled by the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 following allegations of a paper leak, along with complaints linked to other entrance and board examinations. Students have argued that examination failures impose severe financial and emotional costs, particularly on candidates who spend years preparing for competitive tests.
Wangchuk, best known for his work in education, innovation and climate activism, said accountability was essential when repeated failures affected millions of young people. He framed the issue as one that went beyond one examination cycle, arguing that education reform must be implemented in a way that protects public trust. He also referred to the government’s long-term development vision, saying students entering classrooms today would become the country’s workforce and leadership by 2047.
The Cockroach Janta Party began as a satirical digital platform but has grown into a large online youth movement. Its following expanded sharply as frustration mounted over unemployment, inflation and examination failures. The group has used humour, memes and social media campaigns to mobilise younger audiences, but its June 6 call marks a shift from online activism to street protest.
The planned mobilisation places the education ministry under sharper scrutiny at a time when examination integrity has become a politically sensitive issue. Competitive tests determine access to medical, engineering and university programmes, making any disruption a national concern. Families often invest heavily in coaching, travel and accommodation, and cancellations or retests can deepen hardship for students from lower-income backgrounds.
Opposition parties and student groups have also targeted the government over the examination controversies, demanding greater transparency in investigations, stronger safeguards in test administration and compensation for affected students. The government has maintained that action is being taken where irregularities are found and that agencies involved in examinations are being reviewed to strengthen security and public confidence.
The National Testing Agency has faced sustained criticism over its handling of high-stakes exams. Concerns have included alleged leaks, technical problems, scoring disputes and delays in communication. The issues have revived debate over whether a centralised testing model can manage examinations of such scale without stronger oversight, better technology safeguards and independent auditing.
Jantar Mantar has seen several student and civil society agitations over the years, and the June 6 protest is expected to draw attention because of Wangchuk’s involvement and Dipke’s planned return from abroad. Police permissions, crowd control measures and the response of authorities at the airport are likely to shape how the mobilisation unfolds.
