Hundreds of students, youth activists and supporters gathered on the streets of Sikar, Rajasthan, on Friday evening to participate in a large torch march, demanding sweeping reforms in India's examination system and strict action over alleged paper leak incidents. The protest, which followed a student dialogue programme, witnessed participants raising slogans such as "NTA Ko Radd Karo" and "Dharmendra Pradhan Istifa Do", drawing significant public attention in one of Rajasthan's major education hubs.
The demonstration was organised against the backdrop of continuing concerns over the integrity of competitive examinations, particularly NEET. Protesters alleged that repeated examination irregularities have damaged students' confidence in the system and demanded greater accountability from authorities responsible for conducting national-level entrance examinations.
Carrying burning torches through the streets of Sikar, students called for transparent recruitment and admission processes, stronger anti-paper leak mechanisms and comprehensive reforms in the functioning of examination agencies. Many participants displayed placards demanding justice for students and urging the government to restore trust in the education system.
During the march, slogans including "NTA Ko Radd Karo", "Dharmendra Pradhan Istifa Do", and calls for examination reforms echoed across the city. Protesters argued that repeated controversies surrounding competitive examinations have created uncertainty for millions of students preparing for higher education and government recruitment exams.
Sikar has long been recognised as one of India's leading coaching centres for engineering and medical entrance examinations, attracting students from across the country. Because of this, education-related protests in the city often receive widespread attention from students, parents and coaching institutions.
According to reports, students participating in the march demanded:
- Strong action against those involved in alleged paper leak cases.
- Structural reforms in the national examination system.
- Greater transparency and accountability in conducting competitive examinations.
- Protection of students' academic future.
- Action to restore public confidence in examination agencies.
The Sikar protest is part of a broader movement that has gained momentum in recent weeks. Student organisations and youth groups have organised demonstrations in several cities over examination-related issues, while environmentalist and education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk has been holding a hunger strike in New Delhi over similar demands. The movement has also received support from several political leaders and public figures.
Videos and photographs from the torch march quickly spread across social media platforms, showing large crowds marching peacefully through city streets carrying torches and banners. The visuals attracted widespread reactions online, with many users expressing support for examination reforms while others debated the demands being raised during the protest.
Police personnel remained deployed throughout the event to maintain law and order. No major incident of violence or property damage was reported during the march, and the demonstration concluded peacefully after participants addressed the gathering and reiterated their demands.
Student representatives stated that their movement is aimed at ensuring a fair and transparent examination process for future aspirants. They argued that repeated allegations of paper leaks have created anxiety among students who spend years preparing for competitive examinations.
The protest has once again brought the issue of examination reforms into the national spotlight. With demonstrations continuing in different parts of the country, education-related concerns remain a significant public issue as students seek stronger safeguards to protect the credibility of India's competitive examination system.