New Delhi: Social activist and education reform campaigner Sonam Wangchuk has ended his 26 day hunger strike after the Central Government assured him that it would introduce stronger measures to tackle examination paper leaks and improve the country's examination system. His decision came after discussions with senior government ministers and followed weeks of nationwide student protests demanding greater transparency and accountability in public examinations.
Wangchuk announced the end of his fast late on Thursday, saying the government had responded positively to several of the key concerns raised by students and protesters. He also said he did not want the movement to take a violent turn and believed it was important to give the government an opportunity to fulfil its promises through dialogue and reform.
The hunger strike had drawn widespread attention across India as students, parents, teachers and civil society groups expressed concern over repeated incidents of examination paper leaks. The protests gained momentum after allegations of irregularities in major entrance examinations, particularly the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, or NEET, which is used for admission to medical colleges across the country.
Students argued that repeated paper leaks had damaged the credibility of competitive examinations and unfairly affected the future of thousands of candidates who had spent years preparing for the tests. The issue quickly became one of the largest youth movements in the country, with demonstrations taking place in several cities and calls for stronger legal action against those responsible for examination fraud.
According to government officials, Wangchuk held discussions with Union Health Minister J P Nadda and Union Minister Jitendra Singh before deciding to end his fast. During the talks, the government assured him that it would move ahead with new laws aimed at preventing paper leaks and ensuring stricter punishment for those involved in examination related crimes.
The proposed reforms are expected to include stronger legal provisions against organised paper leak networks, tougher penalties for offenders and the establishment of fast track courts to deal with examination fraud cases more quickly. Officials also assured protest leaders that peaceful demonstrators would not face criminal action for participating in the movement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening the examination system. He said that protecting the integrity of public examinations was essential for maintaining the trust of students and ensuring equal opportunities for young people across the country.
While Wangchuk has ended his hunger strike, the wider protest movement is continuing. Student organisations and youth leaders have made it clear that they will not suspend their demonstrations until they see concrete action from the government. Many protesters continue to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, arguing that repeated examination failures occurred under his leadership.
Leaders of the movement have welcomed the government's assurances but remain cautious. They say promises alone are not enough and that meaningful reforms must be implemented without delay. Protest organisers have stated that discussions with government representatives will continue in the coming days while peaceful demonstrations remain in place.
The examination controversy has become one of the most significant political challenges facing the government in recent months. The issue has also led to repeated debates and disruptions in Parliament, with opposition parties accusing the government of failing to protect the integrity of national entrance examinations.
Education experts have welcomed the government's willingness to introduce reforms but stressed that rebuilding public confidence will require long term changes. They believe stronger security measures, improved technology, independent oversight and swift punishment for those involved in paper leak cases will be essential to restoring trust in the examination process.
For now, Wangchuk's decision to end his fast marks an important step towards dialogue between the government and protest leaders. However, with students continuing to press for lasting reforms and accountability, the coming weeks are expected to determine whether the government's promises result in meaningful changes to India's examination system.