Physics Wallah Founder Joins Jantar Mantar Protest: Here’s What’s Happening
Last updated: July 2026
Delhi’s Jantar Mantar is once again at the centre of a student-led movement — and this time, India’s biggest ed-tech name, Physics Wallah, has stepped into the spotlight. Reports and videos circulating online show the Physics Wallah team joining the protest at Jantar Mantar, extending support to Ladakhi engineer-educationist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike as part of the ongoing agitation over exam irregularities.
If you’ve been searching “Physics Wallah founder Jantar Mantar,” here’s a clear, up-to-date breakdown of what’s going on, why it matters, and how it connects to the larger NEET-UG controversy that has gripped India’s student community through 2026.
What Triggered the 2026 Jantar Mantar Protests?
The current wave of protests at Jantar Mantar traces back to two major examination controversies in 2026:
- NEET-UG Paper Leak — Allegations of a leaked question paper affecting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for undergraduate medical courses (NEET-UG), which raised serious doubts about the exam’s fairness for lakhs of aspirants.
- CBSE On-Screen Marking Row — Irregularities in the Central Board of Secondary Education’s On-Screen Marking and revaluation process left thousands of Class 12 students in limbo over their final results.
These two issues fuelled widespread anger among students and parents, eventually snowballing into an organised protest movement at Jantar Mantar, Delhi’s traditional protest ground since the 1990s.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Rise of the Movement
A key player in this movement is the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), founded by Abhijeet Dipke. What started as a digital campaign soon turned into a full-fledged, on-ground agitation, with CJP organising sit-ins and mobilisation drives at Jantar Mantar and appealing directly to NEET aspirants to join.
The protest gained massive traction on social media, and a second major demonstration was held in June 2026, where students gathered with placards and made noise with plates and spoons to symbolise their demand for accountability from the government over exam transparency.
Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike Adds Momentum
The protest took a dramatic turn when climate activist and engineer-educationist Sonam Wangchuk — known for his earlier hunger strikes over Ladakh’s ecological concerns — joined the Jantar Mantar demonstration. He began an indefinite hunger strike, alongside students from the All India Students Association (AISA), demanding accountability from the education ministry over the handling of the exam controversies.
Wangchuk’s involvement significantly raised the profile of the protest, drawing national media attention and support from public figures, educators, and student bodies across the country.
Where Physics Wallah and Alakh Pandey Fit In
This is where Physics Wallah enters the story. Videos shared on social media show members of the Physics Wallah team joining the Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar in support of Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike, standing in solidarity with the NEET aspirants at the centre of the movement.
This isn’t Physics Wallah’s first involvement in the NEET controversy. Its founder and CEO, Alakh Pandey, has been one of the most vocal voices for NEET aspirants since the 2024 paper-leak controversy. Back then, Pandey:
- Publicly questioned the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) transparency after grace marks were awarded to over 1,500 candidates
- Filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court seeking clarity on how the NTA arrived at its decisions
- Used his massive YouTube following to explain exam irregularities directly to students, effectively becoming an informal spokesperson for the movement
That history has made Pandey and Physics Wallah a natural rallying point whenever NEET-related controversies resurface — including the 2026 protests at Jantar Mantar.
Why This Matters for Students and Parents
For millions of NEET and board exam aspirants, this isn’t just a political story — it directly affects their academic future. The core demands emerging from the protest include:
- Greater transparency in NTA’s exam and evaluation processes
- A fair review or re-conduct of affected exams
- Accountability from the education ministry for lapses in exam administration
- Long-term reforms to prevent repeat incidents of paper leaks and marking errors
With a figure as influential as Alakh Pandey and a platform as large as Physics Wallah lending visible support, the movement has reached an audience far beyond Delhi, amplifying pressure on authorities to respond.
A Developing Story
It’s worth noting that the situation at Jantar Mantar remains fluid, with reports suggesting the protest has grown organically beyond the control of its original organisers. As with any fast-moving news story involving student activism and government accountability, details continue to evolve, and readers are encouraged to follow verified news sources for the latest updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who is Alakh Pandey?
Alakh Pandey is the founder and CEO of Physics Wallah (PW), one of India’s largest ed-tech platforms, known for JEE and NEET preparation content.
Q2. Why did Physics Wallah join the Jantar Mantar protest?
Members of the Physics Wallah team joined the protest to show solidarity with NEET aspirants and support Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike, part of the broader agitation over NEET-UG and CBSE exam irregularities in 2026.
Q3. What is the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)?
CJP is a movement founded by Abhijeet Dipke that has been at the forefront of organising the 2026 Jantar Mantar protests over exam-related controversies.
Q4. What is Sonam Wangchuk protesting about at Jantar Mantar?
Sonam Wangchuk is on an indefinite hunger strike demanding accountability from the education ministry over alleged failures in ensuring transparent, fair examinations for NEET and board exam students.
Q5. Is this related to the 2024 NEET controversy?
Yes. The 2026 protests build on unresolved concerns from the 2024 NEET-UG paper leak controversy, during which Alakh Pandey had also filed a PIL in the Supreme Court over exam transparency.
This article is based on publicly available reports and social media coverage as of July 2026. As this is a developing story, details may change — please cross-check with trusted news sources for the latest updates.
Sources
- Wikipedia – 2026 Delhi Jantar Mantar protests (background on NEET-UG leak, CBSE marking row, CJP, Sonam Wangchuk’s strike)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Delhi_Jantar_Mantar_protests - YouTube – Physics Wallah Team Joins CJP Protest, Supports Sonam Wangchuk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbPpDr5AJT4 - The Print – Jantar Mantar protest: How CJP lost control of NEET movement
https://theprint.in/opinion/jantar-mantar-crackdown-cjp/2992744/ - The Print – Alakh Pandey of Physics Wallah has turned into messiah of NEET 2024 students overnight (background on Pandey’s 2024 role)
https://theprint.in/feature/alakh-pandey-of-physics-wallah-has-turned-into-messiah-of-neet-2024-students-overnight/2132781/ - TheFela.org – NEET Controversy: Physics Wallah Founder Calls for Exam Transparency (details on the PIL Pandey filed in the Supreme Court)
https://www.thefela.org/news/details/neet-controversy-physics-wallah-founder-calls-for-exam-transparency
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