NEET joins list; third major protest challenge for Modi government

NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi-led government has, during its 12 years in office, encountered three major nationwide protest movements that significantly challenged its policy positions—the controversy surrounding the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), the year-long agitation against the three farm laws, and the ongoing backlash over the alleged NEET question paper leak.

The first major challenge emerged during the nationwide protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed NRC. Amid widespread demonstrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarified that no decision had been taken on implementing a nationwide NRC, despite earlier statements by Home Minister Amit Shah indicating that such an exercise would be carried out.

The second came with the prolonged farmers' agitation against the Centre's three agricultural reform laws introduced in 2020. What began as protests by farming unions evolved into a year-long movement, eventually leading the government to repeal the legislation. Announcing the decision, Prime Minister Modi also apologised to the farming community.

Most recently, the alleged NEET question paper leak has emerged as another significant challenge for the government. Student protests over the controversy spread rapidly across several states before drawing wider political attention, prompting the Centre to announce a series of measures while defending the integrity of the examination process.