Delhi Metro Closes 18 Stations Amid NEET Leak Protests

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation closed 18 stations in central Delhi starting at 7:30 a.m. on July 25, 2026, to manage crowd movement and maintain order during student protests at Jantar Mantar. The closures affect key hubs including New Delhi, Janpath, and Rajiv Chowk, though interchange facilities remain open at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, and Central Secretariat. Additionally, the Airport Express Line has been restricted to the segment between Dhaula Kuan and Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25.

The protests, led by the Cockroach Janata Party, began on June 6 and demand education system reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following a NEET-UG paper leak. The security situation led the Government of Delhi to order liquor shops to close by 8 p.m. through the weekend. These measures follow a violent Parliament March on July 20 and several days of transit restrictions.

The disruptions have drawn criticism from the legal community. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that the closure of the Supreme Court station is impacting the court's functioning, while the Supreme Court Bar Association noted difficulties for litigants. In response to the unrest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged stricter action against paper leaks, and the Union Cabinet approved amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. Meanwhile, social activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike after receiving written government assurances on reforms.