NEET paper leak protest that changed more than a policy
From Jantar Mantar to Instagram: The Protest that Changed More than a Policy By Debkumar Bhadra Every mass protest leaves behind two legacies. One is visible in government action. The other is written into public memory. The recent agitation over the NEET paper leak was no exception. The immediate outcome appeared significant. Under sustained public pressure, the Union Education Minister resigned and Parliament enacted a law prescribing stringent measures against examination paper leaks. For many, these developments represented the successful culmination of a public campaign. Yet that would be an incomplete reading of the episode Beyond the legislative response and the political outcome lies a far more consequential story—one about how protests are changing in the age of social media, and how governments, organisers and participants alike may have to rethink their roles. The first striking feature of the protest was the contrast between its physical and digital presence. Whi...