Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that the government will set up fast-track courts to prosecute those involved in exam paper leaks, saying the welfare and future of the country’s youth is the government’s top priority. The announcement came as protests demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan continued in New Delhi.

In a post on X, Modi said: “Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!”

“We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks,” he said.

“This continues our series of steps for safeguarding the interests of students. Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared.”

CJP protest enters second month as SC declines urgent hearing, Opposition backs students

The prime minister also said he had directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps on the issue of paper leaks.

Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!

We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2026

His remarks were his first public response after days of protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has demanded Pradhan’s resignation over the exam paper leaks.

The protests have grown into the biggest youth challenge to Modi since he came to power in 2014. Opposition parties have backed the movement and disrupted the monsoon session of parliament, which began this week. It is also the biggest political crisis of Modi’s third term, which began in 2024.

Fast-track courts are special courts created to hear and dispose of cases quickly, helping reduce delays in India’s overburdened justice system. Such courts have previously been set up to deal with sex crimes against women and children, terrorism, money laundering and cases involving lawmakers.

The CJP, which launched its protests last month over exam paper leaks affecting around 2 million students and linked to several suicides, said Modi’s announcement did not address the issue of accountability.

Reacting to the prime minister’s post, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke shared an image of Pradhan with the caption, “Hi, my name is nothing”, while the party posted: “Dharmendra Pradhan Must Resign.”

Dipke reiterated that the protest would continue until the education minister stepped down.

“It has been 25 days so far. Even if it takes 25 months, that is acceptable, but we will not move from here,” Dipke told protesters at Jantar Mantar late on Wednesday night.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also responded to Modi’s post on X, saying it was the prime minister who had harmed the future of young people the most.

“You allowed and encouraged the total capture and destruction of our education system – and protected every person responsible for it,” Gandhi said.

He again demanded that Pradhan be sacked, Modi apologise to students and those who assaulted protesters be punished.

The latest developments came after protesters briefly clashed with police in New Delhi late on Wednesday. Police used tear gas and canes to push back demonstrators.

Local media estimated that more than 10,000 people gathered at the Jantar Mantar protest site on Wednesday night as CJP leaders vowed to continue their month-old agitation until Pradhan resigned.

According to Delhi Police, quoted by news agency ANI, some protesters threw stones and plastic bottles at police, injuring several officers who were taken to hospital.

On Monday, tens of thousands of protesters marched towards parliament, with clashes breaking out in some places after police fired tear gas rounds and used canes to disperse crowds.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said it had closed 16 stations in and around central New Delhi on Thursday until further notice because of security concerns. It was the second large-scale closure this week.

Under pressure from the protests, the government has held one round of talks with CJP leaders and assured them that their demands would be considered. It has also offered to debate the issue in parliament and introduce reforms to the examination system.

Opposition parties led by the Congress have backed the protesters’ demands, with Gandhi leading demonstrations outside Modi’s residence and outside the parliament building.

The CJP began as an online satire involving only a few hundred young people before growing into a nationwide protest movement.

Its rise reflects growing frustration among young Indians over issues including job shortages and repeated exam paper leaks. The movement has also given opposition parties an opportunity to target Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which counts young voters among its core support base and has won a series of state elections since the 2024 general election, when Modi did not secure an outright parliamentary majority.