 | Data PointFriday | 13 November, 2026 |  |
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 Cockroach Janata Party founder (CJP) supporters raise slogans as they stage a protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, a day after police action on students during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march, at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, Tuesday, July 21, 2026. | Photo Credit: Salman Ali Testing times: how the Data Team covered India’s student protestsWelcome back to Data Point! The past few weeks were a refreshing time to be in a newsroom, as we witnessed and covered the protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding accountability over paper leaks in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), which resulted in the government accepting many of their demands, including the resignation of Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan. We used this momentum to analyse the state of education in India and its repercussions on its youth. While the protests were ignited by the lack of accountability over the NEET paper leaks, another aspect that drove people to protests was the number of deceased students who ended their lives over the NEET paper leaks. The number of students who died by suicides increased by 80% between 2014 and 2024. Data from the Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) also show that more than 2,000 people died by suicide every year due to “failure in examinations”. We looked at the systemic issues that come with competitive exams such as NEET, and how, due to the odds being stacked against students, they turn to private coaching. However, private coaching is a luxury to many. Read our story about this here. We also noted that the number of undergraduate enrolments in India declined for the first time here. We looked into trends in terms of gender, programmes, and States. Another aspect of the protests which were heavily discussed were the use of tear gas, pellet guns, and lathi charges by the police. These incidents reignited questions over when force may be used, the safeguards governing arrests, and the balance between maintaining public order and protecting civil liberties. A survey released in 2025 showed that out of 8,000, more than 70% personnel agreed that police should be allowed to use force without fear of punishment in order to properly discharge their responsibilities. Read our story detailing more findings from the survey. Here are some of the other stories we put out this week: Are children with special needs enrolled in schools in India? Ten years and 7 PMs later, did Brexit make a difference? Before you click away, we have an exciting announcement! We’re relaunching! The next time you see the newsletter in your inbox, it will be with a new name, different look, and content that is diverse and even more engaging. Watch this space, and let us know what you would like to see in your fortnightly dash of data journalism. Email us at nitika.evangeline@the hindu.co.in |
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