Educational institutions across Telangana remained largely closed on Friday as student organizations enforced a statewide bandh to protest against the alleged NEET paper leak and police action on students demonstrating at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The shutdown was called by a joint forum of seven major student bodies including SFI, AISF, NSUI, PDSU, AIFDS, AISB, and AIPSU, who coordinated the protest action on July 24, 2026. While most schools and colleges observed the bandh, a few institutions remained open despite the call for closure.
The student unions have raised serious concerns over the integrity of the national examination system following repeated instances of paper leaks. The protesting organizations are demanding immediate action from the central government to restore credibility in competitive examinations. The bandh was organized in solidarity with students who were allegedly subjected to police brutality while peacefully protesting at Jantar Mantar against the examination irregularities.
The student organizations have put forward three primary demands to the central government. First, they are calling for the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him accountable for the failures in the examination system. Second, they want strict action against those involved in the alleged NEET paper leak, including a thorough investigation into the matter. Third, the students are demanding greater transparency in the examination system to prevent future incidents and restore faith in competitive examinations.
The bandh call by the Telangana state units of the student organizations received widespread support from educational institutions across the state. The joint forum representing multiple student bodies coordinated the protest action to amplify their demands at both state and national levels. The shutdown of educational institutions marked a significant show of solidarity with the ongoing student movement against alleged examination malpractices and police action on peaceful protesters.
