The Double-Edged Digital Resistance: How Meme Culture Powered—and Polarized—the NEET-UG Agitation

Aishwarya Siingh

BAJMC Sem 3

Meme fest during Jantar Mantar Protests

The NEET-UG paper leak scandals and systemic exam delays threw the lives of over 2.4 million medical aspirants into total chaos, triggering an unprecedented wave of rage that brought Jantar Mantar to a complete standstill. Behind the slogans lay a grim reality: India’s pressure-cooker competitive exam culture has reached a breaking point, with National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data revealing over 13,000 annual student suicides—a devastating 70% surge over the last decade. In coaching hubs like Kota, where over 23 student suicides were recorded in a single year, systemic paper leaks and arbitrary evaluation schemes felt like the ultimate betrayal. Driven by desperation, unaligned students alongside decentralized youth groups like the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)—a movement birthed satirically after a senior legal official disparagingly compared protesting youth to "cockroaches"—transformed Delhi’s central protest hub into an explosive epicenter of Gen Z resistance. The movement erupted into a national flashpoint in late June when activist Sonam Wangchuk joined CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke at the site and launched an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with the students. Protesters bypassed traditional media altogether, using Instagram Reels, broadcast channels, and location tags to mobilize tens of thousands within hours.

At the absolute center of this new protest style was a vibrant, irreverent brand culture built on Gen Z meme mechanics and sharp satirical placards that turned Jantar Mantar into a viral online memefest. Banners across Sansad Marg displayed bold personal-meets-political humor, with viral signs reading "My ex and this government are both heartless," "When will democracy open a customer care," and "Ikea has better cabinets." Pop-culture crossovers thrived, from subverting the Mahabharata where Krishna tells a stressed minister to "Resign kar yaar tu pehle," to making cheeky references to Melody toffees ("Melodi Khao, Khud Jaan Jao"), parodying traditional protest tropes with banners like "Simon, Come Back," and crafting viral Instagram Reels that gamified police chases into real-life Subway Surfers. Crucially, posters reading "Nobody funds me, I hate this government for free" carried immense geopolitical significance: following successful youth-led Gen Z uprisings in neighboring nations like Nepal that triggered regime changes, political opponents and internet theorists began circulating claims that American agencies or covert foreign forces were funding the Jantar Mantar mobilization. By turning that specific conspiracy theory into a viral punchline, the students directly disarmed state narratives. This distinct meme language served as an extraordinarily powerful force for democratization: it stripped away dry policy jargon, translated complex institutional failure into punchy digital content, sustained student morale across weeks of oppressive heat and police surveillance, and forced the entire nation to pay attention. By replacing rigid political hierarchies with hyper-relatable internet culture and decentralized digital coordination, a leaderless student collective successfully outmaneuvered traditional state suppression, forced mainstream news networks to cover their demands daily, and proved that viral digital solidarity can translate directly into physical political pressure.

However, this heavy reliance on meme culture, brand mechanics, and internet antics proved to be a double-edged sword, drawing fierce public backlash for trivializing a critical human crisis. On the negative side, critics and grieving families fiercely attacked the jarring optics of the venue, pointing out the deeply insensitive sight of students laughing, shooting TikTok trends, eating delivery food, and posing for photo-ops directly alongside a solemn vigil held for aspirants who had committed suicide. This stark contrast—where a site dedicated to mourning young lives lost to systemic failure morphed into a carnival-like party ground—drew sharp condemnation for dishonoring the dead. The optics grew even more damaging as students partied, ate pizzas, and shot comedic reels while Sonam Wangchuk’s health severely deteriorated on a fast just a few feet away, ultimately requiring an emergency police removal to the hospital. Furthermore, the line between constructive satire and political harassment quickly dissolved as several placards and viral edits targeted top administrative figures with crude slurs, vulgar personal attacks, and aggressive character assassinations. These hostile displays led to widespread allegations of third-party political hijacking, alienating neutral observers who felt the serious fight for exam security was being drowned out by sensationalized digital spectacle.

Despite these controversies, the unprecedented fusion of physical sit-ins, meme campaigns, and high-visibility hunger strikes ultimately forced high-level political accountability. Following weeks of sustained agitation, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan submitted his resignation, the central government enacted the landmark Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act with stringent penalties for paper-leak syndicates, and the Supreme Court ordered a comprehensive overhaul of the National Testing Agency.

 (Author's own opinion)

Every Click tells a story

Guest Column

An opinion

Partha Pratim Mukherjee

Digital Forensic & Financial Crime Investigator

Created by Partha Pratim Mukherjee

 

There was a time when privacy was simple.

You closed your front door, drew the curtains, and your personal life remained exactly that  personal. Conversations faded into memory, photographs stayed inside family albums, and the places you visited were known only to the people who saw you there.

Today, privacy has quietly changed its meaning.

As a digital forensic investigator, I have spent more than two decades examining computers, mobile phones and digital devices. People often ask me if technology has made investigations easier. My answer surprises them. Technology does not create evidence, it preserves it. Every search, every message, every photograph, every payment and every location leaves behind a silent record. People forget. Devices remember. Digital forensics simply helps us read the memories left behind.

Have you ever noticed? You casually talk about buying a new phone, planning a vacation, or ordering a pair of shoes. A few hours later, advertisements for those very things begin appearing on your social media feeds, search results, and shopping apps.

Coincidence? Perhaps not.

The irony is that we rarely think about privacy when we trade it for convenience.

We grant permissions to applications without reading them. We connect to public Wi-Fi without a second thought. We use the same password for everything because it’s convenient. We click “Accept” far more often than we stop to ask, “What exactly am I agreeing to?”

Every permission we grant is a small act of trust. Access to our location, contacts, photographs, camera or microphone may enable useful features, but it also expands the amount of personal information our devices and applications can access.

Have you ever wondered how free apps make money? 

Data is the new currency. Many digital services are free because we pay not with money, but with our data. As the saying goes, “If you’re not paying for the product, you’re the product.”

What makes your data so valuable? 

Because data tells a story about us. It reveals our interests, habits, preferences and behaviour. The more companies understand us, the better they can personalise services, recommend products and deliver advertisements tailored specifically to us.

Technology has transformed the way we communicate, learn, work and live. The challenge is not to reject it, but to understand the price of convenience. Before installing an app, granting a permission or sharing personal information, pause for a moment and ask yourself a simple question: Do I really need to share this?

Perhaps privacy is not a myth. We just keep trading it for convenience. 

(Author's opinion)

সখী পরকিয়া কারে কয়?

Guest Column

A relationship commentary

Amritakana Majumder

Author & Teacher

Pexels

সেদিন হঠাৎ ইনস্টাগ্রামে একজন ভদ্রমহিলা আমার ইনস্টা প্রোফাইলের একটি ছবির স্ট্যাটাসে কমেন্ট করে বসলেন, আচ্ছা, আপনি কি পরকীয়াতে বিশ্বাসী? কি মনে হয় আপনার এসব কি ঠিক? আজন্ম প্রেমে বিশ্বাসী আমি অযথা এমন প্রশ্নে বেশ বিরক্ত হয়েই মহিলাকে আনফলো করলাম। ভালোবাসার আবার বিশ্বাস - অবিশ্বাস কি? এর আবার বৈধ - অবৈধতাই বা কিসের? একটা ছবির স্ট্যাটাসের কিছু কথা থেকে এসব নিয়ে আমি ভাবতে পারি এমনটাই বা স্থির করলো কে? কেমন যেনো ভাবালো। সেই রাধা - কৃষ্ণের প্রেমের পরেও লোকের এই ধরণের প্রেম নিয়েই যেনো যত আড়িপাতা, কানাকানি, পরকীয়া নামটাতে আপত্তি থাকলেও আসলে নামকরণের সার্থকতাই আমার মনে হল, পরের সঙ্গে ক্রিয়া, এ ক্রিয়া তো আসছেই কোনো প্রতিক্রিয়ার কারণে। ধরুন যে বয়সে লোকে বুড়িয়ে যায়, ঠিক সে বয়সটাতেই কেউ বুড়োলো না, তার বাচ্চাখেয়াল দিন দিন প্রগাঢ়ভাবে ফিরে এলো তখন সে যদি একটু সেই আগের দিনগুলোর মতো বেঁচে নেয় ক্ষতি কি তাতে? আসলে তার চারপাশটা আদপেই বুড়িয়ে গিয়েছে, একঘেয়ে হয়ে গিয়েছে। সে তিতার রস ভেবে রোজ রোজ সে সব খেয়ে নিয়েও হঠাৎ একদিন সে হয়তো আর পারছেনা। সে সময় হঠাৎ যদি একটা গোটা সন্ধ্যায় তার বৃষ্টিতে ভেজবার সুযোগ হয়, কারো সাথে মাইলখানেক পথ একসাথে চলবার সুযোগ হয় সে কি নেবে না সে সুযোগ। সে যে ভেজেনি কতদিন এভাবে। 

ফেসবুকের খুব সামান্য জাজের পোজের ছবিতে একটা কমেন্টে তার যদি আবার যদি নতুন করে নিজেকে ভালোবাসে চোখে আটকে যায় ক্ষতি কি বলুন? দিল তো বাচ্চা হ্যায় মানেই কাচ্চা। অর্থাৎ কাঁচা কাজ। এখন বিষয় হল এ প্রেমের সমাপন পরিনতি হীন। তাই মন খারাপ, অহেতুক কান্না। কিন্তু আমরা কি কবে কোন কাজ তার ভবিষ্যৎভেবে করেছি বলুন তো? বৈধ একটা বিয়েরও কি সবসময় সুন্দর পরিণতি হয়? তবুও তো তাকে লালন করে চলি আমরা। ভালোবাসার আবার আপন,পর বৈধ - অবৈধ কি? যারে ভালোবাসা যায় সে কি আর পর থাকে? সে যে নিজের এক্কেবারে আপন হয়ে যায়। হয়তো তাকে পাশে নিয়েই চলে একঘেয়ে দিনগুলোর যাপন। তা যে একটা গান আছে না, সে আসবে বলে তাই আমি স্বপ্ন দেখে যাই। জরুরী আসলে ঐ স্বপ্ন দেখা। যেটা দেখতে গিয়ে কেউ একজন খুব করে জীবনের একটা ক্ষুদ্র সময় খুব করে বেঁচে নিল, ভালোবাসার এই যে অমোঘ চাহিদা তার মনে ধরে নিতে হবে তার মানে যোগান কম। তা যদি একজন মানুষের হাত ধরে মেটে তাতে ক্ষতি কি? কেন সমাজের নিন্দে মন্দ? কেন হাজারো তীর, বেঁকা প্রশ্ন। কে ঠকায় কাকে? যে বছর বছর ঠকে এসেছে সে ঠকাবে কাকে? তবে হ্যাঁ সমস্যাটা অন্য জায়গায়। এই যে পরকীয়া তা কি ভালোবাসা, মন, স্বপ্নের রঙিন পাখনা? নাকি সবটুকুই ঐ চাহিদা মেটা অবধি? তারপরেই কি শেষ সব ? এই যে দুজনের ভালোলাগায় বেশ কিছু সুন্দর মুহূর্ত তৈরি হল, তা কি কেবল চাহিদাটুকু মিটলেই শেষ? আর তার কোনো অণুরনন নেই? আমি বলি আছে। 

সত্যিকারের পরকীয়ায় আছে। সত্যিকারের পরকীয়া একে অপরকে সমৃদ্ধ করে। পাশে থাকে। একঘেয়ে জীবনটাকে প্রতি পদক্ষেপে সুন্দর করে। আসলে এই যে আমাদের একা হয়ে স্বার্থপরের মতো খুব নিজের চাহিদাটুকু নিয়ে ভেবে যাওয়া এ আসলে অনেককিছুর কমতি। সেই যে পাড়া কালচার, পাশের বাড়ির কাকিমা, জেঠিমার, বারান্দার গল্প, এ বাড়ির ছাদ থেকে ও বাড়ির ছাদ সবটা হারিয়ে গিয়েই কেমন যেন বেখাপ্পা হয়ে গেলো দুনিয়াটা। সবাই আমরা কেমন খাপছাড়া হয়ে আবদ্ধ হয়ে পড়লাম স্বল্প সময়ের ভালোলাগায়, ভেতরে ভেতরে কেমন যেন আমরা সবাই একা। কথা নেই, কেবল কথার ক্ষোভ আমাদের। যে সব ভুলে তোমার শ্রোতা হবে সব ভুলে মন যেন তারই। সকলের এই প্রচণ্ড ব্যস্ততার জীবনে কেমন যেন মাকড়সার মতো জাল বুনে ফেলল এই পরকীয়া। শরীর আর মনের একটা গোপন খেলায় মেতে গেল সবটুকু, তবে মুশকিল বাঁধালো ইমোশন। সে যদি মনের গোপন চোরাকুঠুরীতে বাসা বেঁধে ফেলে তখন কিন্তু এক ফোঁটাও ভালো থাকতে দেবে না এই পরকীয়া। যোগান তখন এক্সপেক্টেশন এর ঘেরাটোপে কম মনে হতে থাকবে। সুস্থ সম্পর্কে আসবে অসুস্থতা। বিনোদনের পাল্লা কমতে থাকবে। তবু পরকীয়া বেঁচে থাক কারণ এ ক্রিয়া ফৌজদারি অপরাধ নয়। মনেরও তো মন আছে কাজেই সে যদি ছুটে যায় তো থাকনা। ভালোবাসতে আর অপবিত্রতার জায়গা কোথায় সে আলোতেই আসুক বা গোপনে  অন্ধকোণে। একই সময়ে দুজন মানুষকে ভালোবাসা যায় না ঠিকই তবে একজনের সাথে দায়বদ্ধতা আর কর্তব্য জড়িয়ে অপরজনকে নিয়ে স্বপ্নে ভাসা যায়। আর স্বপ্নে ভাসবার অধিকার প্রতিটি মানুষের আছে যাতে নেই কোনো অন্যায় বা পাপ।

(Disclaimer: Author's opinion)

The Lotus Blooms in Bengal: A Historic Saffron Surge in 2026

Opinion Piece

Aishwarya Siingh

BAJMC Sem 2

The change of guard...outgoing CM Mamata Banerjee PC: Pexels

The political landscape of West Bengal has been irrevocably altered as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clinched a historic victory in the 2026 Assembly Elections, securing a resounding 208 seats and ending the fifteen-year reign of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The campaign was defined by a surge of raw public emotion, encapsulated in the viral anthem "Paltano darkar, Chai BJP sarkar" (A change is needed, hence a BJP government) and the desperate plea of "Banchte chai, BJP tai" (We want to live, hence BJP).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a symbolic morning boat ride on the Hooghly river, capturing the "soul of Bengal" and declaring that the state now demands progress over stagnation. Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the shift "from fear to trust" as the state recorded an unprecedented 46.5% vote share for the BJP, while the TMC's share plummeted to 38.2%, leaving them with only 79 seats.

The saffron wave swept through the state’s five divisions with mathematical precision. In the Jalpaiguri Division (North Bengal), the BJP’s dominance was absolute, winning 48 out of 54 seats. The Presidency Division, including Kolkata, witnessed the most stunning transformation where the BJP captured 42 of 68 seats—highlighted by the historic defeat of Mamata Banerjee in her own bastion of Bhabanipur. In a repeat of the Nandigram "giant-slayer" act, Suvendu Adhikari wrested the seat from the incumbent CM by a margin of over 15,000 votes. In Medinipur, the Adhikari fortress remained impenetrable with 42 seats, while the Burdwan Division saw 45 seats flip as industrial workers revolted against job scarcity. Even in the Malda Division, a historic stronghold, the BJP made massive inroads with 31 seats. Every party this time took a bite out of the TMC’s traditional voter base; notably, the Left Front and Congress broke their prior droughts to secure 2 seats each, proving that the anti-incumbency sentiment had permeated every corner of the electorate.

The fall of the TMC was precipitated by a "perfect storm" of systemic failures and a breakdown in law and order. Women’s safety emerged as the ultimate deal-breaker, fueled by the Chief Minister’s own controversial remarks questioning why girls need to go out after 7 PM. This, alongside the "Syndicate" culture and "Cut-money" practices, left the public exhausted. The administration was further accused of intentionally blocking central welfare schemes like Ayushman Bharat and PM-Kisan. Perhaps most alarming were the direct confrontations with central agencies, such as the CM allegedly barging into an ED raid to seize files, and the shocking incident in Malda where a mob held judicial officers captive—an incident that underscored a total collapse of the rule of law.

Furthermore, the narrative of demographic shift due to illegal immigration from Bangladesh resonated deeply, with residents in border districts blaming the influx for rising crime and disrupted peace in once-tranquil cities.So, Why BJP? Beyond the anger, the BJP offered a concrete vision of "Ashol Poriborton" (Real Change). This victory was the result of years of meticulous groundwork by a core team of strategists. Credit is widely given to Sunil Bansal, the General Secretary whose "Panna Pramukh" model established a standing cadre that finally challenged the TMC's grassroots dominance. Dharmendra Pradhan acted as the chief strategist and troubleshooter, bridging the gap between the central leadership and local units, while Bhupender Yadav is praised for his flawless micro-management of booth-level operations and legal challenges.

Additionally, Biplab Deb played a pivotal role; his deep understanding of Bengali traditions—similar to those in his native Tripura—and his aggressive, high-energy campaigning style significantly influenced and energized the BJP workers on the ground. The victory was further bolstered by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which purged over 9 million "ghost voters." This process, combined with the commendable work of the CRPF, gave voters the confidence to step out without fear of the "Chapamar" (rigged) voting tactics of the past. The election also saw the successful implementation of "Home Voting", where polling officials went to the residences of bedridden and elderly citizens to collect their ballots.

This unprecedented security even prompted a large number of migrants to return from different states across India just to cast their votes. By combining a promise of industrial revival with a restored rule of law, the BJP has not just won an election—it has initiated a new epoch in the history of "Sonar Bangla." All the data, seat divisions, and electoral figures mentioned in this article have been sourced directly from the official website of the Election Commission of India (ECI)

Read more: https://results.eci.gov.in/ResultAcGenMay2026/index.htm

West Bengal Votes Like It Matters

An opinion piece  

Voters’ Turnout and Democratic Vigour of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026

Souvik Mukherjee

MA.JMC SEM 4

 

AI generated 

The Assembly elections in West Bengal in 2026 have kicked off with a massive boost in terms of the democratic exercise of voting, creating a new benchmark which cannot be overlooked. According to data released by the Election Commission of India, the turnout for Phase 1 stood at more than 92.5%, whereas Phase 2 did not lag far behind, registering nearly 90% of voter participation. This does not merely represent a remarkable feat; it also makes West Bengal one of the most politically active states in India, perhaps in the entire world.

What stands out beyond the headline figures is the uniformity of participation across phases. Elections in many regions often witness an initial surge in turnout followed by a gradual decline. West Bengal, however, has defied that trend. From densely populated urban constituencies to remote rural belts, polling booths saw long queues throughout the day, indicating that voters were not only willing but determined to exercise their franchise. This sustained momentum reflects a deeply ingrained political culture, where electoral participation is viewed not as a periodic duty, but as an essential expression of individual and collective agency.

There are several reasons why voter participation was higher this time.

Firstly, the state has always been known for its political awareness. It is common to talk about issues like governance, ideology, and leadership on a daily basis.

Secondly, the intense nature of the election, characterized by compelling political messages, active party members among the people, and aggressive campaigns, also motivated more people to vote.

That said, while such high turnout numbers are certainly impressive, they also underscore the wider obligations that come with being part of democracy. It takes more than just numbers for an election to be considered healthy. Quality debate, a fair system, and the ability of voters to make sound judgments are all integral parts of any good election. In this sense, high voter turnout is both a triumph and a warning. It reflects the power of the electorate even as it emphasizes the importance of creating a political atmosphere commensurate with their interest. Indeed, the sheer level of participation means that stakes have been raised considerably when it comes to the outcome of this particular electoral event. Attention will be on the outcome of what can be described as a fiercely fought political contest. It will all come down to whether the ruling government manages to maintain its power base or if the voters decide to swing things to a new direction, possibly resulting in a stronger political right presence in the state’s politics.

Ultimately, the two initial phases of the 2026 elections have provided a strong and inspiring message. Democracy in West Bengal is not just a system that relies solely on the institutions involved but a dynamic process involving the populace itself. The lines outside voting booths, the continuous increase in voter turnout numbers, and the overall eagerness for the results indicate a population that takes their democratic privileges seriously. As the elections unfold and the eventual mandate becomes clear, there is one thing that cannot be denied anymore: the citizens of West Bengal have made their presence felt, and through that presence, they have upheld the bedrock of democracy.

(Author's personal opinion)

Read to know more:

EXIT POLL RESULTS 2026

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/exit-poll-results-2026-for-bengal-tamil-nadu-assam-kerala-puducherry-explained-in-5-charts/articleshow/130623842.cms

 

Salaried for Surveys, Empty in the Classroom: How Administrative Duties are Hijacking Public Education

An opinion by

Aishwarya Siingh

Pexels

The persistent claim that public schools are achieving parity with private institutions is being fundamentally undermined by a systemic redirection of resources that prioritizes administrative data over student learning. Currently, a staggering 90% to 95% of the teaching workforce in Uttar Pradesh has been removed from the classroom to serve as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) survey. This administrative overreach has left schools in a state of functional paralysis; while students continue to attend, they find their classrooms empty of instructors. Only headmasters and supervisors remain on the premises, acting as mere caretakers rather than educators. This results in a miserable waste of the students' most formative years, as the core objective of the institution—the delivery of a curriculum—is completely suspended in favor of government surveys.

This crisis is not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of a perpetual cycle of non-teaching assignments that treat educators as an all-purpose administrative workforce. Beyond the current SIR survey, teachers are already being earmarked for duties involving the upcoming National Census (Janganana), followed by the Panchayati and Vidhan Sabha elections. Even in the rare windows when they are not in the field, they are frequently pulled away for mandatory training sessions, ensuring that their presence in the classroom is a rarity rather than the norm. By the time one government task concludes, the next begins, leaving the public education system in a permanent state of neglect. There is currently no mechanism for accountability or a platform for the public to question why election logistics are consistently placed above the academic future of millions of children.

Ultimately, the government's strategy reveals a troubling prioritization of fiscal utility over educational quality. The primary aim appears to be the total exhaustion of the salaries paid to teachers by utilizing them for every conceivable state function except for actual teaching. This approach renders the government’s promises of "reliable education" hollow, as the "Right to Education" cannot be upheld in an environment where the teacher is perpetually absent. While private school students advance through their studies without interruption, public school students are left behind by the very state that claims to protect their interests. Until the government separates pedagogical duties from administrative labor, the public school system will remain a building without a soul, and its students will remain casualties of bureaucratic convenience.

 (Author's own opinion)

IS INDIA STILL SECULAR? - An Opinion

 by

Anupama Shaw

BAJMC 6

Pexels

Secularism was once at the heart of India's democracy. It promised equal treatment for every citizen, no matter their religion. It meant more than simply tolerating differences, it meant respecting all beliefs and favouring none. But today, we must ask: IS INDIA STILL SECULAR? Has this principle been quietly altered? 

The founders of modern India, leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and B.R. Ambedkar, did not view religion as a threat to democracy. Their main concern was communalism, the harmful belief that people from one religious group oppose those from another. For them, secularism was about preventing religion from being misused for political reasons. Ambedkar, who wrote India's Constitution, understood how religion could justify caste oppression and social hierarchy. To him, a secular state was not just a legal matter; it was a moral commitment to uphold human dignity. 

Articles 25 to 28 of the Constitution guarantee freedom of religion. Article 14 ensures equality before the law. These statements were not just decorative phrases; they formed the backbone of the republic. The word "secular" was officially added to the Preamble by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976, reaffirming that the founding vision was intentional. 

However, the current political forces in India have a different vision. The ruling party and its supporters openly promote a majoritarian view of nationalism, prioritizing the identity of the majority and viewing cultural diversity as secondary. This change is not subtle; it is loud, deliberate, and often unapologetic. It often presents secularism as a Western idea that does not fit India's cultural context. 

A key piece of evidence for this change is the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019. For the first time in India’s history, religion was a clear criterion for citizenship. The Act expedited citizenship for persecuted minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, but notably excluded Muslims. Critics argued this directly violated the Constitution’s guarantee of equality. The Supreme Court received over 200 petitions challenging the law. As of 2025, a final ruling is still pending, indicating the political weight of the issue. 

Additionally, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Assam left about 1.9 million people stateless, many of whom were Muslims who had lived in the state for generations. What started as a citizenship issue turned into a religious matter based on lived experiences. 

This shift is evident not only in legislation but also in everyday life. According to the India Hate Lab, incidents of anti-Muslim hate speech increased by over 62% between 2022 and 2023. The India spend database recorded more than 100 cases of cow-related violence from 2010 to 2022, with Muslims being the primary targets. Many of these incidents occurred in public, yet many perpetrators faced no consequences. When the state does not respond promptly and firmly to communal violence, its silence becomes a message rather than neutrality. 

Ironically, the decline of secularism did not begin solely with the ruling forces. Opposition parties share some of the blame, often using vote-bank politics to appeal to specific religious or caste groups. This approach has led to identity-based division and further weakened the nation’s secular fabric. The Congress party, which ruled India for decades under the banner of secularism, also faced its own communal failures. The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which followed Indira Gandhi's assassination, led to the deaths of over 3,000 Sikhs, mainly in Delhi. The state’s response to this violence was insufficient; justice was delayed for many years. 

It is important to note that selective secularism protecting minorities only when it is politically advantageous is not true secularism. The decline started long before 2014. It has quietly developed under various governments, led by leaders who viewed religious identity as a political tool rather than a constitutional issue. Recently, there have been signs of bias in parts of the judiciary, especially at lower levels, favouring majority interests in sensitive cases. While higher courts have generally maintained a balanced stance, these shifts at the grassroots level are concerning for a democracy that values justice and equality. 

In 2020, the Allahabad High Court made comments suggesting that conversion for marriage was unacceptable language mirroring the "love jihad" narrative promoted by right wing groups before reversing its stance. The fact that such ideas entered judicial discussions at all is significant. Courts should not reflect popular bias; they exist to challenge it. Moreover, the use of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against journalists, students, and activists, many of whom criticized government religious or cultural policies, has drawn criticism from groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. When dissent becomes dangerous, supporting secularism becomes even more challenging. 

The world is watching. Freedom House downgraded India from "Free" to "Partly Free" in 2021, citing shrinking space for religious minorities and civil society. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has continually raised concerns about India. The Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index ranked India 46th in 2023, a significant drop from previous years. These are not politically motivated attacks on India’s sovereignty; they are assessments that the Constitution itself prompts: a republic must be willing to evaluate itself against the standards it set at its founding. 

If India is to stay true to its Constitution, secularism must not just survive, it must be actively defended. It is no longer merely a legal term or an academic discussion. It is a reality that impacts how millions experience justice, dignity, and freedom in their daily lives. India is not a failed state. Its institutions, though under pressure, still function. Elections still take place. Courts still occasionally rule against the government. The press, despite challenges, still publishes. Civil society still protests. These are important developments. But being wounded is not the same as being safe. 

Democracies rarely collapse overnight. They erode gradually through countless small silences, through many moments when principles are sacrificed for convenience. The students in classrooms today, writing for college newspapers and debating in seminar halls, are not just observers of this story. They are part of its next chapter. The question "Is India still secular?" is one we cannot direct solely at our politicians. We must ask it of ourselves. The answer will depend entirely on what we are willing to uphold.

(N.B: Author's own opinion)

References & Further Reading:

I. Constitutional & Legal Documents

The Constitution of India: Full Text of Articles 14, 25-28 (Official Gazette).

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019: Ministry of Home Affairs Official Notification.

Supreme Court of India: SC to commence final hearing on 240+ CAA petitions from May 5, 2026 (India Today Report). 

II. Statistical Reports & Human Rights Data

Anti-Muslim Hate Speech: Hate Speech Events in India: 2023 Annual Report (India Hate Lab).

Cow-Related Violence: 78% of those killed in cow-related violence were Muslims (The Hindu/FactChecker.in).

Assam NRC Data: Final National Register of Citizens (NRC) List (2019) (Official State Portal).

III. International Democracy Indices

Freedom House (2021): India: Freedom in the World — Status: Partly Free.

Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU): Democracy Index 2023: India Ranks 46th Globally.

Amnesty International: India 2023/24 Report on Human Rights and Dissent.

IV. Judicial & Media Analysis

Allahabad High Court Ruling (Reversal): "Right to Choose Partner is Fundamental" — Order in Salamat Ansari vs. State of UP.

The 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry Report.

Opinion Piece on SIR

by

Aishwarya Siingh

BAJMC Sem 2

Source: BJP Goa (FB Page)

Sir (Special Intensive Revision), in my opinion, has been done with a greater intention to strike out all the fake voters from the upcoming voter list, particularly the illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants. However, what the government has failed to realize is that during the whole process, it has been observed that at many instances, illegal immigrants tend to had more credential and valid documents as compared to many genuine voters and Indian citizens, casting doubts on achieving the desired outputs from the process. Many credible citizens were observed opting out of the process due to their many reasons, including non-willingness to participate, trust issues regarding the whole electoral process in particular, and the system in general , skipping the whole process in fear of being included in any future list that may, as they feared, stripping them of their rights and titles, or even citizenship, and even worse, being deported to other country. The speed at which this process was announced and conducted added more to the worries of the common man, while the surprise element, with which the government expected to detain the illegal migrants unguarded, didn’t seemed to had any major impact on ground at large.

 

Source: BJP Goa (FB Page)

On the other hand, a number of Booth Level Officer (BLOs) committing suicide, out of pressure, was one of the major political issues raised by political parties. However, what raised doubts on the nature of these deaths, is that most of these were reported in West Bengal, a state poll bound for April-May 2026, with many analysts raising concerns and pointing out to a larger conspiracy, considering the fact that all these BLOs had faced pressure in the past, including the assembly and Lok Sabha election, and other government related activities and processes. Another Bengal related SIR issue was noncompletion of CAA on time, alarming the members of Matua community and other Hindus about their future in the country, who fled Bangladesh to avoid religious persecution. Both Centre and State governments tried to assure the community, but fear seemed to have inflated already.

It’s not that SIR didn’t had an impact, many Bangladeshi intruders were seen crossing various border outputs on Indo-Bangla border to back to home country citing possible crackdown by the authorities. Apart from that, all the states saw the deletion of many voters, most of them being either dead, or had been listed in voter list of multiple cities or states, reducing the number of fake voters across the country .In my view, certain trust building exercises and campaigns should have been conducted by both ECI (Election Commission of India) and the government, before implementing it. Also, SIR should not be held after two decades but rather be conducted regularly at every 5 or 10 years, making it a rather routine process, not attracting unnecessary controversy and political traction, and steps must be taken to make it more transparent, credible and effective.

The lack of time given to complete the process created a chaos amongst the government officials as well as the general public. Although later on the deadline was exceeded. The government officials confirm that the technology was not used in it's full capacity and the BLOs were not well trained for the job. The government failed to create awareness about SIR in general public. While conducting an interview on ground in Uttar Pradesh, I observed highly educated people like teachers , engineers and doctors also denied  to even put a comma in the SIR form as they feared smallest of mistake will lead to cancellation of their citizenship and some said "Yogi ji(CM of Uttar Pradesh) Pakistan bhejwa denge".

(Author’s personal opinion)

 

 

 

 

When Voters' Data Meet Reality! - On the Ground Impact of SIR 2026 in West Bengal

An opinion piece by a young voter

Souvik Mukherjee 

MAJMC Sem 4

Revised Schedule of SIR

Source: From the Official handle of Chief Electoral Office, West Bengal ceowestbengal.wb.gov.in

 

In West Bengal, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026, which began as an administrative activity, has now become an experience that many thousands of voters have had to live with.

Several districts of West Bengal have experienced significant amounts of notices, hearings, document verification, and doubt as it relates to current voter registration versus older election data, especially regarding the 2002 Voter List. The issuance of an unprecedented number of notices sent to voters, many of which have been categorized as logical discrepancies, ASD (Absentee, Shifted and Dead) unmapped situation, etc. has been one of the most visible impacts at the ground level of SIR.

For many long-term voters, this has been the first time they received notification that their eligibility was being challenged and questioned after participating in more than one election cycle. Often, voters are made to attend verification hearings at block/subdivision offices as part of their appeal process. The challenges this has created for rural communities are significant. Many elderly people, individuals with disabilities, low-wage earners, and migrant workers have difficulty making long-distance trips, sometimes necessitating multiple trips within a short period of time. In some districts, this has resulted in public protests to have hearings conducted closer to polling locations.

Many voters have experienced repeated verification problems, particularly with regards to the old-style (pre-2002) voter data from the 2002 election. In some cases, where there are disputes about the latest electronic database mapping records correctly, references are being made back to the old-style (pre-2002) electors’ rolls for verification because the names of many voters are included in the older electors’ rolls but do not exactly match the names on the most recent electronic databases, many of these voters have been flagged for hearing. The small discrepancies in age, spelling, or address that have accumulated over several decades have resulted in some voters receiving notice of possible hearings or having to produce documents of proof of identity for voting purposes. For some of the older voters, especially those over 60, producing the required documentation has been a significant burden.

Voter documentation without reliable confirmation continues to be a major issue for many. Many constituents reported submitting identity and address verification documents during hearings or by using the verification process but were subsequently told that there was no record of their submission. In many instances, a receipt or written acknowledgment was not provided. The absence of traceability has caused increased concern among voters who were already being considered "not found" or "unmapped." These constituents now fear that the lack of documentation regarding their submissions may result in being deleted from the final roll because of a gap in the process, as opposed to ineligibility.

The increasing reliance on digitization throughout the SIR process has added to the pressure on voters and their rights, particularly where previously handwritten records in a regional script are being translated to digital formats via Standardization. Small discrepancies- spelling variations, estimated birth dates and different structures of address, have resulted in many of these records being reported as mismatched and therefore requiring subsequent verification. Many voters report receiving multiple phone calls regarding their records after making corrections to them, resulting in the perception of a repeated process rather than a resolved one.

For voters who are migrant workers or employed outside of their home districts, the difficulties of attending hearings scheduled with little notice often result in the voters having to make difficult decisions about whether to prioritize their livelihoods over compliance with the electoral process. As a result of the issues outlined above, voters report increased anxiety related to the electoral process. Many reports confusion with respect to the process, fear of being removed from the electoral roll and distrust of inconsistent communications regarding their voting record.

While the SIR 2026 project is designed to enhance the accuracy of electoral rolls, it appears that there is a conflict between the administrative verification process and the convenience of voters, which may affect the efficacy of the SIR process as to whether or not genuine voters feel to have been supported and protected during the process.

West Bengal will soon publish its final electoral roll. The process of Special Intensive Revision remains ongoing, with significant administrative and social challenges associated with the implementation of this program. Through the course of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), it was demonstrated how large and complex the task was to keep accurate databases of voters due to continued migration, vast differences in language, and the many years of records that had developed prior to the development of electronic records systems. The process of verification is critical to maintaining the integrity of an election; however, based on the experiences that have emerged on the ground, how the process is implemented may be equally as important as what is intended through the implementation.

Therefore, the final outcome of the SIR 2026 may not only depend on the level of accuracy of the databases produced but also on whether the process provides voters with the confidence that voter inclusion is the expected outcome through the system used.

 

Read more:

Sr Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the ECI, stated that

https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/sir-verification-of-citizenship-only-for-electoral-purposes-the-method-is-liberal-soft-touch-eci-tells-supreme-court-519854

Bihar Elections 2025: Election Promises on Job: Youth’s Opinion

Report by

Souvik Mandal

MAJMC Sem 1

PC: Pexels

Kolkata: As Bihar Election is coming near, everywhere people talking about Bihar Election and Youths are actively participating in Election talk. From Tea Stalls to Offices and even in Colleges everywhere People are gossiping on Election and promises made by nominated Leaders.

In the conversation with Youths mainly they are concerned about unemployment and illiteracy. Some also says that this election will make a new Bihar free from Jungle Raj.  

Aman, 25yrs from Gaya said: "I am unemployed even after completion of Graduation. There is no job at all in Bihar. In last election also they have promised for giving jobs but nothing changed and again they are making same promises."

Priya, 19yrs from Patna said: "I am very excited to vote for first time. I have studied from a government school and there is no any good facilities in the school which encourage students to study. I will vote for the candidate who will talk about education system."

Arnav, 28 from Patna said: "I am watching this election very closely this time. And many leaders were giving false promises to public but this time we have tools to fact check their promises with available data. So, we can clearly choose our leader."

Sana, 22yrs from Rajgir said: "Migration is the main problem in our community. Young people leave home from job. We need local industry, better education. But I am very upset in this election as leaders are only talking about caste and religion."

Sourav, 23yrs from Bhagalpur said: "Politics divide use from being united by promoting caste politics. We need to talk about startups, skill training and digitalization."

While parties across different political alliances are talking about caste, jobs in every house, youths are cautious about jobs, trainings, stopping migration, better education. Youths promised they will vote for only those who will look after Bihar’s development

Today is 14th of November, we are awaiting for the results. Let's hope for the best.

(Author's personal opinion)

Latest update: Courtesy: The Times of India 

Bihar Election Results 2025 Live: As vote counting for the Bihar assembly elections continues, the ruling NDA has taken a comfortable lead in early trends, leaving the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, headed by Tejashwi Yadav, struggling to regain ground. Veteran leader and longest-serving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is once again poised for the top post.