Indian prime minister Narendra Modi broke his silence on Thursday as thousands of young protesters camped out on the streets of Delhi, though he stopped short of meeting their demands for the resignation of the country’s education minister. India’s “cockroach” protests began more than a month ago over alleged leaks in some of the country’s most competitive entrance exams for medical colleges and government jobs. The movement has since expanded beyond exam grievances, drawing professionals and families to join the ranks of students while channelling broader frustration. Addressing the issue publicly for the first time on Thursday, prime minister Narendra Modi announced fast-track courts to handle examination paper leak cases. “Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!” Modi wrote on X.The announcement did little to calm the protesters, as the leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party, which launched the movement, said they would not end their demonstrations until the education minister resigned. Staying true to the movement’s tongue-in-cheek style, its founder Abhijeet Dipke responded by posting a meme of Pradhan captioned: “Hi, my name is Nothing.” Modi offers first concession to ‘cockroach’ protests but stops short of firing ministerIndian prime minister Narendra Modi issued his first comments on Thursday aimed at pacifying hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered across the country seeking the resignation of the education minister, even as he stopped short of meeting their demands. Report: Namita Singh23 July 2026 22:30Modi’s government invites protesters for dialogueAmid Gen Z protests that refuse to die down, union minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday reiterated the government's commitment to dialogue, stating that it has extended multiple formal invitations to student representatives for discussions.“This is a part of the series of continuous steps taken by the government for the welfare of the students. Humbly, I appeal to you all to come and have discussions,” he told ANI.The Cockroach Janata Party earlier rejected an offer to have a meeting at the house of minister JP Nadda’s, demanding to see him at a neutral place.“The ministers told us not to call them to Jantar Mantar since people are very angry and they won’t be able to come there. We offered to hold talks at a neutral venue,” spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said.Namita Singh23 July 2026 21:30Modi again addresses paper leak issue, vows 'strict action'Narendra Modi doubled down on remarks he made earlier on Thursday, returning to the issue in a late-night post on X in which he stressed that those responsible for examination paper leaks would face 'strict action'.‘Paper leak is not an ordinary issue. It is very painful for lakhs of students and their families. That is why many steps have been taken in the last two and a half months,’ Modi said in the X post. Sonal Hayat23 July 2026 21:13Indian celebrities extend support to studentsSeveral prominent Indian actors and sportspeople have voiced support for the demonstrations in Delhi and criticised Monday's scenes of alleged police brutality.Celebrities including Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt expressed solidarity while several actors including Shabana Azmi, Imran Khan and Huma Qureshi joined the protests in Delhi and Mumbai.Actor R Madhavan, who recently starred in the popular Dhurandhar franchise that has been criticised as nationalist propaganda in favour of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said that he believes “every student deserves a system that is fair, transparent and built on merit”.Salman Khan extends support to the protesters demonstrating against the paper leaks in India (AFP/Getty)“As someone who has always believed in the limitless potential of India’s youth, I share the concern and disappointment felt by so many students and parents today,” he wrote.Actor Alia Bhatt said that the resolve of the students who are protesting “is a mirror held up to all of us, asking whether we are truly listening to the very people who will inherit and shape this country’s tomorrow”.Actor Salman Khan said on Wednesday that it was “sad” that the peaceful protest “had to take a violent turn”.“My heart goes out to the students and their families who were hurt,” he said on social media. “Paper leak is a very serious issue, and I am glad to know and see that the kids of our country have come together for a better educational system.”Namita Singh23 July 2026 20:15A single photo captures the resolve behind India's 'cockroach' protestsThe blue police van dominates the frame.A young woman, Rhiya Ahir, stands in front of it in a rain-soaked hoodie, one hand pressed against the metal.Behind the windshield sit police officers. Inside the van are young protesters detained after demonstrations in India’s financial capital Mumbai on Wednesday.India’s “cockroach” protests began more than a month ago over alleged leaks in some of the country’s most competitive entrance exams for medical schools and government jobs. Since then, the movement has grown beyond exam complaints, drawing professionals and families and reflecting broader public frustration.The confrontation lasted about 40 minutes.Rhiya Ahir, a model, blocks a police van carrying detained protesters during a demonstration demanding educational reforms as part of the Cockroach Janta Party's ongoing protest movement in Mumbai, India (AP)Ahir said she had been waiting for friends before joining the protest when she saw the police van. She asked officers if they had the required paperwork to detain the protesters.Unsatisfied with the response, she first walked alongside the moving vehicle. When she could no longer keep up, she stepped in front of it.The 27-year-old said she could not accept seeing ordinary citizens being treated like criminals simply for protesting.The driver revved the engine, startling her. Ahir said the possibility of being detained or injured crossed her mind, but she refused to move. She held her ground until the protesters were released.Ahir admitted she was afraid. But conviction prevailed.“I knew one thing,” she said. “If I had started this, I had to end it.”Namita Singh23 July 2026 19:30Why millions of Indians are proudly calling themselves ‘cockroaches’It began as a satirical movement online, embracing the humble cockroach as a way to voice the frustrations of young people in India after a series of scandals rocking the education sector.Now, the so-called “Cockroach Janta (People’s) Party” has captured the attention of the nation, with a weeks-long sit-in protest in the capital culminating in a march on parliament that was met by tear gas and baton charges from the police.Read more about the party, which has dubbed themselves as the "voice of the lazy and unemployed":Namita Singh23 July 2026 18:30Delhi police given power to carry out preventive detention under stringent national security lawThe Lieutenant Governor of Delhi has authorised the commissioner of police to carry out preventive detention of protesters under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).The NSA allows preventive detention of individuals if “acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of the State or…the maintenance of Public order or…the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community”.(Reuters)It allows for preventive detention without immediate criminal prosecution for a specified period.The authorisation, given by the Lieutenant Governor, will remain in force till 18 October.The police have clarified that the order is “routine”, adding that it is unconnected with the ongoing street protests by students demanding the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.Namita Singh23 July 2026 17:45What sets apart India's cockroach protest from other revolutions in South AsiaBut will they topple the government in India, like the GenZ protests did in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and NepalReport:Namita Singh23 July 2026 17:00Protests reflect rising youth angerFor many young Indians, the protests have become one of the few visible expressions of dissent in a country where demonstrations against Narendra Modi’s government have led to a broader crackdown on activists, opposition figures and public protests.The movement’s rapid growth beyond student groups reflects wider frustration among young Indians and echoes a broader trend across South Asia, where young people have driven anti-government movements in recent years.Demonstrators hold placards during a protest march in Mumbai on 22 July 2026 in solidarity with the ongoing protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar (AFP/Getty)The movement has also gained a following among Indians of all ages over concerns about government accountability, unemployment and economic opportunity.Opposition parties have backed the protests, using the issue to challenge the government in Parliament. Demonstrations and solidarity events have been held in other Indian cities, reflecting how the movement has spread beyond the capital.market that has struggled to create enough secure, well-paying jobs. Despite years of rapid economic growth, many young people say their prospects have not improved.As one of the country’s largest voting blocs, India’s youth could also become an increasingly important political force ahead of future elections.Namita Singh23 July 2026 16:15Modi tries to contain protest falloutIndia's prime minister Narendra Modi addressed the protesters' demands for the first time on Thursday, though he did not mention the Cockroach Janta Party or the unrest in Delhi directly.The key demand of the protest movement since it began last month has been the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and accountability from the government for a debacle involving the cancellation of a major university entrance exam.A Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporter holds a placard during an ongoing protest demanding the resignation of India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (AFP/Getty)Modi said today he would set up fast-track courts to handle the alleged paper leaks that led to the exam being scrapped, vowing "strict punishment" for those involved. Fast-track courts are special courts created to speed up cases in India’s notoriously slow justice system.“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!,” Modi wrote on X.Leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party, which launched the protest movement, said they would not end their demonstrations until the education minister resigned.Staying true to the movement’s tongue-in-cheek style, its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, responded by posting a meme of Pradhan captioned: “Hi, my name is Nothing.” Namita Singh23 July 2026 15:30