How the Jantar Mantar Protests Forced India to Confront Its Examination Crisis

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  How the Jantar Mantar Protests Forced India to Confront Its Examination Crisis Every year, millions of Indian students dedicate months, sometimes years, to preparing for competitive examinations that shape their futures. Among these, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is one of India's most important and competitive entrance exams, serving as the gateway to medical education. In 2026, that trust was severely tested. Following allegations of a large-scale question paper leak, the NEET examination came under intense public scrutiny. Investigations, public outrage, and the decision to conduct one of the largest re-examinations in India's history transformed what initially appeared to be an examination scandal into a national debate about accountability and educational reform. More Than Just One Examination The controversy was not only about a leaked paper. It reflected growing frustration over repeated examination irregularities seen across various competitive and...
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ELECTORAL BONDS

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Electoral bonds are financial instruments used for making donations to political parties.

 

Here are the key points regarding electoral bonds:  

  • Eligibility for Political Parties:

Only political parties that meet the following criteria are eligible to receive electoral bonds:

  1. Registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
  2. Secured at least one percent of the votes polled in the last general election to the House of the People (Lok Sabha) or the Legislative Assembly (state elections) 12.



  • Nature of Electoral Bonds:
  1. An electoral bond is a bearer instrument, meaning it does not carry the name of the buyer or payee.
  2. No ownership information is recorded, and the holder (i.e., the political party) is presumed to be its owner.
  3. These bonds are issued in multiples of ₹1,000, ₹10,000, ₹1 lakh, ₹10 lakh, and ₹1 crore.
  4. Individuals (Indian citizens) and domestic companies can donate these bonds to political parties of their choice.
  5. Political parties must redeem these bonds within 15 days of receiving them 3 .

  • Transparency Concerns:
  1. Critics have raised concerns about transparency in political party finances.
  2. The scheme does not require political parties to disclose the names and addresses of contributors using electoral bonds in their annual contribution reports filed with the Election Commission.
  3. While citizens receive no details about the donors, the government can access donor information through the State Bank of India (SBI) 3.

In a recent landmark judgment, the Supreme Court annulled the electoral bonds scheme, citing violations of constitutional rights to freedom of speech, expression, and information 456. 

The CJI said, "Economic inequality leads to differing levels of political engagement because of the deep association between money and politics. At a primary level, political contributions give a 'seat at the table' to the contributor. That is, it enhances access to legislators.

The court emphasized the importance of voters’ right to information in maintaining the purity of elections and sustaining democracy.




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