India’s other Gandhi

It has now been 18 days since Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakhi engineer and climate activist who began his fast-unto-death at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. On June 28, 2026, he joined a youth-led protest alongside the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET exam scam, a complete overhaul of India’s examination system, and genuine dialogue between the government and student representatives. Yet, the Centre has remained silent. No official has reached out to Wangchuk, even as he risks his life for transparency and accountability. This is not his first such protest. Back in March 2024, he fasted for 21 days to demand statehood for Ladakh and inclusion of the Union Territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. His current hunger strike is his second, and it reflects his deep commitment to public causes. Despite warnings from doctors and political leaders about his deteriorating health, the government has neither intervened nor engaged with his demands. Wangchuk’s protest is not about personal gain-it is about exposing the cracks in India’s examination system, which has been plagued by scams and irregularities that have shattered the dreams of millions of students. The NEET-UG, UGC-NET, and CBSE examinations-cornerstones of higher education-have all been tainted. In NEET 2024, 155 students benefited directly from leaked papers in Patna and Hazaribagh, with impossible scores raising further suspicion. In NEET 2026, the entire exam was cancelled after a paper leak- an unprecedented move. The UGC-NET 2024 saw a 100-page question paper PDF leaked on the darknet, forcing overnight cancellation. And CBSE’s new digital marking system in 2026 was riddled with glitches, security flaws, and mismatched answer sheets. These are not isolated incidents but point to systemic failures. Students who trusted the judiciary were left disillusioned when, in July 2024, the Supreme Court acknowledged the NEET paper leak but ruled it was not widespread enough to warrant a re-examination. The verdict upheld the exam’s validity but left civil society and students dissatisfied, as it seemed to downplay documented fraud. India’s higher education entrance system has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years. Question paper leaks, fraudulent marking, and organized cheating rings have eroded public confidence. Each scandal-the NEET controversies, the UGC-NET darknet leak, the CBSE digital marking fiasco-has chipped away at the credibility of institutions meant to safeguard merit and fairness. The government has responded with measures like the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, review committees, and tighter security protocols. But the persistence of scams shows these steps are not enough. What is needed is structural reform: stronger security systems, accountability for contractors, independent audits, and transparent processes that restore faith in examinations. Sonam Wangchuk’s fast is not just about one exam or one minister. It is about the future of millions of young Indians whose lives and careers depend on fair opportunities. His sacrifice is a call to action. If the government continues to ignore him, it risks not only his life but also the trust of an entire generation. India cannot afford to let its examination system collapse under corruption and negligence. Wangchuk’s protest is a reminder that integrity in education is non-negotiable. The time for silence is over and it is time for reform.