WHAT’S HAPPENING IN INDIA · PART 1
One billion cockroaches.
Cockroach Janta Party. From an online response to exam protests, court orders, school audits and voter-roll demands.
Exams→Schools→Voter rolls
CJP timeline
64 dated events · through 12 Oct 20265 MAY 2024
The earlier leak didn’t trigger a national retest.
A real leak.
The Supreme Court records the Hazaribagh and Patna breach.
No systemic breach established.
The Court rejects a nationwide retest; the identified beneficiaries can be separated.
3–12 MAY 2026
2.2 million sit an exam. Nine days later, it’s cancelled.
NEET-UG is held.
About 2.2 million candidates appear for the medical entrance exam.
NTA cancels it.
Fresh paper-leak allegations prompt a CBI investigation and a new examination.
2.2Mcandidates appeared
2.2Mcandidates appeared
15 MAY · 2026
An insult becomes a name.
“Cockroaches.”
Chief Justice Surya Kant uses the word in a senior-designation hearing, separate from NEET.
Abhijeet Dipke posts.
The satirical Cockroach Janta Party takes shape in response.
The Chief Justice clarifies.
He says he meant people entering professions with fake degrees.
20 MAY · 2026
The account reaches 25 million followers by July.
29 MAY · 2026
The X account is blocked. The challenge reaches court.
CJP challenges the restriction on its account in India. The blocking order itself was not before the court in the reported hearing.
No immediate restoration.
Delhi High Court asks the statutory review committee to examine the blocking before July 7.
6 JUNE · JANTAR MANTAR · 2026
The meme reaches the street.
Hundreds gather.
The first street demonstration demands Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and gives a seven-day ultimatum.
6 Junefirst street protest
6 Junefirst street protest
11 JUNE · PUNE · 2026
The campaign leaves Delhi.
A national campaign is launched.
At Savitribai Phule Pune University, Dipke releases an exam-reform manifesto.
Another city demonstrates.
The demand is again Pradhan’s resignation.
11 JUNE · EXAM MANIFESTO
How should failed exams be handled?
CJP’s exam-reform proposals.
- ₹10,000
- Proposed compensation for leaks, postponements or delayed results.
- 72 hours
- Proposed window for a cancelled test’s backup date.
- Audits
- Computer-based systems checked before exams; relief for candidates hit by delays.
20 JUNE · JANTAR MANTAR · 2026
A demonstration becomes a sit-in.
Protesters stay.
The second Delhi demonstration becomes an indefinite sit-in. People camp, volunteer and bring food.
3 MAY → 21 JUNE
49 days to sit the exam again.
- Original exam
- Cancelled
- Retest
28 JUNE · 2026
Wangchuk begins his fast.
Sonam Wangchuk joins the sit-in.
The engineer and education activist begins an indefinite hunger strike over the education demands.
29 MAY → 7 JULY · THE ACCOUNT CASE
The court orders the X account restored.
The NEET-related concern has passed.
Delhi High Court orders the handle unblocked after the exam is over.
18 JULY · 2026
A fast at Jantar Mantar. Then a hospital.
Police take Wangchuk to hospital.
CJP criticises the removal. Other movement leaders begin their own fast.
20 JULY · CHALO SANSAD · 2026
The march meets a crackdown.
Thousands attempt to march.
Police use tear gas and cane charges. Reuters also observes some protesters throwing stones.
J.P. Nadda meets CJP leaders.
The government asks for time to consider their demands.
22 JULY · 2026
The demands extend to police accountability.
CJP restates its demands.
Pradhan’s resignation; ₹1 crore for bereaved families; no prosecution of peaceful protesters; action against officers accused of atrocities.
23 JULY · 2026
The fast ends. The resignation demand doesn’t.
Modi promises fast-track courts.
The proposed courts would address examination paper leaks.
The reported 26-day fast ends.
Wangchuk ends his fast after talks with ministers. CJP keeps demanding Pradhan’s resignation.
25 JULY · OFFICIAL ACTION · 2026
Pradhan resigns. CJP withdraws the agitation.
The President accepts his resignation.
Pralhad Joshi receives the Education portfolio.
The sit-in is called off.
CJP cites assurances about compensation, protest-related cases and further reform talks.
6 / 20 JUNE → 25 JULY
Two starts. One resignation date.
- 49 days
- From the first street demonstration.
- 35 days
- From the indefinite sit-in’s start.
27 JULY · 2026
The sit-in ends. The case dispute continues.
CJP alleges the assurance is being breached.
It reports continuing arrests in Assam, Bihar and West Bengal and asks the Centre to intervene.
State notifications are shared.
CJP says Bihar and Assam assurances have arrived. That is a step toward closure, not proof every case has ended.
28 JULY · 2026
Preserve the footage. Release the minors.
The Supreme Court gives interim protection.
It orders footage and records preserved, detained minors released and protection from coercive action for student protesters, while investigations may continue.
States can close or withdraw cases.
The Court clarifies that its earlier order does not prevent lawful case closure.
6 AUGUST · 2026
CJP builds a national organisation.
A National Working Committee is announced.
Dipke is national convener; Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das are co-conveners.
“Kya Bolti Public”.
A September outreach campaign and state and city coordination network are announced.
15 AUGUST · 2026
Now, fix the schools.
“School Thik Karo” begins.
The “fix the school” campaign encourages inspections of government schools and basic facilities.
A repair-start deadline is reported.
CJP says Sanjay Colony residents want repairs begun by September 15.
REPORTED 20 AUGUST · 2026
A panel will examine the July violence.
A High-Powered Enquiry Committee.
Retired Supreme Court judge R Subhash Reddy heads the panel. It will examine alleged police excesses and violence on both sides.
The panel is retained.
The Court declines to reconstitute it and asks for an interim report.
24 AUGUST · 2026
Another march is called over the July promises.
A September 5 march is announced.
India Gate to Delhi Police headquarters. CJP alleges the promises on cases and compensation remain unmet.
1 SEPTEMBER · SUPREME COURT · 2026
July cases closed. September march off.
July protest FIRs are quashed or closed.
The order covers the specified July 20–25 protest incidents, with an express exception for the police’s 2,873-person serious-antecedents list.
The September 5 call is withdrawn.
The government also commits to formulate a compensation policy within 90 days and arrange payment afterward.
4 SEPTEMBER · PARLIAMENT STREET · 2026
A June assault allegation brings protesters to a police station.
CJP demands stricter charges.
Supporters sit outside the police station over injuries allegedly sustained by a supporter in June. Police add SC/ST Act provisions.
LATE AUGUST · 2026
The school campaign continues into September.
A letter to state education ministers.
Dipke urges action on school conditions; the exact dispatch day is not established here.
School inspections near Delhi.
Le Monde’s reporter accompanies CJP’s team, documenting infrastructure and sanitation conditions.
MAY–AUGUST · REVEALED IN SEPTEMBER
The Election Commission’s internal objections.
Two commissioners object to a form change.
Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu say voter-registration rules must be amended first.
The online form changes anyway.
A declaration concerning the last Special Intensive Revision appears on Form 6.
Sandhu asks for its removal.
The parallel sequence becomes public in September reporting.
12 JULY · ONLINE FORM 6 INSPECTED
A new question. An answer required to submit.
The voter-registration form asks whether the applicant or their parents / grandparents appear on the last SIR roll.
- SIR
- Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.
- Not marked mandatory
- But the portal does not let applicants proceed without completing the declaration.
11–17 FEBRUARY · GOA · 2026
97 eligible voters. No software option to restore them.
Eight requests for a rollback option.
Local officers find 97 voters eligible, but the software cannot record their restoration.
Collect fresh Form 6 applications.
The response says 81 had submitted fresh forms.
97eligible voters in the reported Goa case
97eligible voters in the reported Goa case
22 SEPTEMBER · 2026
Two commissioners. At least 14 objections.
The internal objections become public.
The Indian Express investigation reports at least 14 objections over ten months from two of the three commissioners.
The EC responds.
It says differing views are normal deliberation and final decisions were unanimous.
14+reported objections over ten months
14+reported objections over ten months
24 SEPTEMBER · 2026
A new target. A 48-hour demand.
CJP demands Gyanesh Kumar resign.
The Chief Election Commissioner gets a 48-hour ultimatum. CJP also demands an inquiry and a freeze on exclusions.
The EC announces a software review.
A committee with an independent expert will review ECINET, its digital platform.
2 OCTOBER · SHIVAJI PARK · 2026
Mumbai first. Delhi is called next.
A protest despite denied permission.
The demand is Kumar’s resignation.
Dipke calls for October 10.
The planned Delhi gathering is at Jantar Mantar, eight days later.
7 OCTOBER · 2026
The application. The refusal.
Police say they receive the application.
CJP plans to gather on October 10.
Permission is denied.
Police cite three days’ notice against their ten-day guideline, public-order concerns and prohibitory orders.
9 OCTOBER · 9PM IST · 2026
The route closes before the gathering.
45 metro stations
ENTRY / EXIT GATES
ENTRY / EXIT GATES
25h
Mobile data
REPORTED 4KM ZONE
REPORTED 4KM ZONE
24h
9pm · 9 Oct10pm · 10 Oct
10 OCTOBER · DELHI AIRPORT · 2026
Detained before the venue.
Three CJP leaders are detained.
Dipke and two others are detained on arrival from Mumbai.
Police report 2,400 detentions.
Most are released that night. This is the police’s figure, not an independent tally.
2,400Saturday detentions, police said
2,400Saturday detentions, police said
10 OCTOBER · 10PM · 2026
Released. Protests continue.
Metro gates reopen.
The 25-hour entry and exit closure ends.
The three leaders are released.
CJP says the release follows an undertaking to maintain public peace.
Hundreds are detained again.
Reuters reports more detentions during scattered demonstrations.
12 OCTOBER · 2026
The opposition marches toward the Supreme Court.
The voter-roll protest widens.
Opposition parties march toward the Supreme Court. Six metro stations face new restrictions.
ANNOUNCED 12 OCTOBER · 2026
Jantar Mantar loses its protest-site status.
Three replacement venues.
Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground replace Jantar Mantar as the designated protest venues.
- Ramlila Ground
- Central Delhi
- Burari Ground
- North Delhi
- CBD Ground
- East Delhi
16 MAY → 12 OCTOBER 2026
149 days from the post to October 12.
- Founding post
- Indefinite sit-in
- Resignation; sit-in ends
- July cases closed; march withdrawn
- Election-chief demand
- Court march; venue change
NEW DELHI · OUR PS VIDEO
Detained “for standing”.
Dr. Aakash B
OUR TARGET · 15 MAY 2029
India29.
946calendar days from 12 October 2026
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