Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended a 26-day hunger strike that helped propel a youth-led protest movement calling for education reform and accountability over examination paper leaks. The protest’s continuation despite his decision underlines the scale of public anger and keeps pressure on the government, particularly Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Wangchuk began fasting on 28 June in support of the Cockroach Janta Party’s demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. He ended the strike after government assurances that peaceful protesters would not face legal action and that exam-system accountability would be discussed, but organisers say their sit-in will continue until Pradhan resigns; protests have also involved clashes with police and arrests.