Anti-reservation protesters detained at Jantar Mantar

Recent protests at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, driven by youth concerns over employment, examination integrity, and the reservation system, have brought widespread student discontent into sharp political focus, prompting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to call for greater engagement with young Indians. The demonstrations, which took place on Friday, August 21, 2026, culminated in a large anti-reservation gathering that proceeded despite authorities denying permission for the specific site.

Hundreds of people assembled at Jantar Mantar on August 21 under the banner of the "Reservation Hatao Andolan," an Instagram-based campaign. Protesters, predominantly men carrying saffron flags and posters, demanded a fundamental shift from caste-based to economic criteria for determining access to government support and affirmative action. Their specific calls included implementing a "one family, one reservation" policy, rolling back the University Grants Commission's 2026 caste-equity rules, and a review of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Participants argued the existing framework no longer served its intended purpose and benefits often failed...