Expect, avoid further student-led protests linked to cancellation of national entrance exam
Level: Notice
Location: India
Category: Protest/Rally, Road disruption
Expect and avoid further student led-protests in urban centres over the coming weeks following the cancellation of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). While the National Testing Agency (NTA) has rescheduled a re-sit of the test on 21 June, this has failed to address student groups’ core demands. The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has announced nationwide protests until 20 June over alleged NEET paper leaks and demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Advice
- Liaise with local contacts for information on any related protests in your area. Avoid all related gatherings as a precaution.
- Expect heightened security measures and road disruption near protest locations.
- Leave an area if demonstrators and/or police officers begin to gather there. Do not attempt to pass through crowds or police barricades. Instead, seek an alternative route.
- If travelling near a gathering, reconfirm the status of routes prior to setting out. Allow additional time for journeys.
- Monitor our India alerts for updates.
More detail
Impact
Details of planned protests are listed below (all times local). This list is not exhaustive:
13 June
14 June
15 June
Protests have been held in state capitals and urban centres, including the capital New Delhi, since 12 May. IYC has called for a series of protests in Chandigarh union territory, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu states between 10 and 20 June. Clashes occurred on 21 May outside the headquarters of the BJP in Jaipur, where the authorities used water cannon and barricades to deter protesters. Demonstrations have also taken place at Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi, resulting in the detention of several participants. In Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala state) the police deployed water cannon to disperse protesters outside the Comptroller and Auditor General office.
Youth leaders have threatened to launch a nationwide movement if Pradhan does not resign by 13 June. Thousands of students held a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 6 June. Other rallies were held on 11 June at Savitribai Phule University in Pune (Maharashtra state) and on 12 June at Eco Garden in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh state).
Outlook
As Pradhan is unlikely to resign, the protests are likely to continue until at least the NTA re-test scheduled for 21 June. Potential flashpoints include Shastri Bhawan, Lok Bhawan and the education minister’s residence in New Delhi, alongside Ministry of Education and NTA offices and around university campuses.
While we expect protests by emerging youth activists to pass off peacefully, there is a persistent risk of clashes during IYC-led demonstrations. If crowds attempt to enter government buildings/offices, the police are liable to use forcible measures to disperse them. The authorities will deploy additional security around flashpoints to prevent any escalation.
Context
Protests by student unions condemning the cancellation of NEET have been ongoing in several urban centres. Several groups, including central opposition parties and university-level student organisations, have held demonstrations against the cancellation in recent weeks. The exam, held on 3 May, was cancelled on 12 May by the NTA following paper leak allegations.
Several political parties, including the Biju Janata Dal, Indian National Congress and Communist Party of India, have issued statements criticising the cancellation of the exam.
Jaipur (Rajasthan state): Expect increased security, follow official directives until 22 June amid prohibitory orders
Level: Notice
Location: Jaipur - India
Category: Police/security operation, Communal unrest, Protest/Rally, Internet outage, Road disruption
Expect increased security and follow official directives in the state capital Jaipur (Rajasthan state) until 22 June amid prohibitory orders. The authorities have banned gatherings of five or more people and unauthorized rallies. On 8 June, the authorities conducted an anti-encroachment operation and demolished five religious sites in Jagatpura. During the operation, mobile internet services were temporarily restricted in northern and eastern parts of the city as a precautionary measure in addition to the ban on gatherings.
Advice
- Do not be unduly alarmed by increased police presence around religious sites, commercial areas and public squares in Jaipur. Follow all official directives and carry relevant identification documents to ease passage through any checkpoints.
- Account for additional time along the affected stretch of National Highway (NH)-21. Wherever possible, plan movements bypassing known anti-encroachment drive sites in Jagatpura and nearby areas to minimise delays.
- Avoid all related protests as a precaution. If you come across a roadblock, turn around and seek an alternative route to your destination. Do not engage in any public discussions on politically and religiously sensitive topics as a precautionary measure.
- Ensure access to alternative modes of communication (primary, alternative and emergency) if in the affected area in Jaipur in the coming days
- Monitor our India alerts for updates.
More detail
Impact
Prohibitory orders are typically issued ahead of anti-encroachment drives to prevent any law-and-order concerns. Reportedly, the temporary suspension of internet services was aimed at preventing the spread of associated misinformation on social media. Drives in Jaipur involve religious sites, therefore raising the risk of communal unrest and protests during demolitions. However, the operation was completed with no remarkable incident.
Heightened security will remain over the coming days around the demolition areas and key public squares. Short-notice traffic diversions and barricades are likely, particularly near the NH-21 in Jagatpura, including Nandpuri Upas. The police will use forcible dispersal measures against any unauthorised and sporadic demonstrations to enforce prohibitory orders. Orders could then be extended depending on scheduled demolition drives.
Discovery of terror plot, arrest of suspects underline need for vigilance
Level: Notice
Location: India
Category: Terror plot, Police/security operation
The authorities on 30 May announced the arrest of nine terror suspects during security operations in the capital New Delhi, Mumbai (Maharashtra state) and Punjab state. A large cache of arms and ammunition, including pistols and hand grenades, was recovered during the operations, and the suspects are allegedly linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency. The individuals were reportedly planning attacks on strategic locations, including government installations, key transport hubs and religious sites, in Mumbai, New Delhi and other cities. The development underlines the need to exercise vigilance and sensible safety precautions.
Advice
- Be vigilant and follow instructions from the police during or following any security operations. Be alert to suspicious behaviour and packages, which should be reported to the authorities.
- Maintain heightened situational awareness and minimise time spent near checkpoints, security establishments, key government offices and historical landmarks.
- Verify information from various reliable sources to identify facts, rumours and misinformation.
- Monitor our India alerts for updates.
More detail
Impact
Further security operations are likely in the coming weeks, while the police seek to identify additional operatives and determine the full extent of the network. Most of these investigative activities will occur discreetly to prevent remaining operatives from evading detection.
Outlook
The arrests highlight the enhanced counterterrorism capabilities of interstate security agencies, despite the persistent threat of terrorism. The security forces conducted similar coordinated operations and arrests on 27 May in Mumbai and Pune (Maharashtra), as well as in Jharkhand state in recent weeks. The country’s National Investigation Agency also carried out counterterrorism raids across Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh states on 29 May.
The recovery of hand grenades and pistols during the latest raids demonstrate extremist groups’ capability to conduct localised attacks, as was observed during the low-intensity attacks in Punjab in April-May (
see separate alert). Hand grenades are often employed in attacks on patrols and/or checkpoints, typically targeting security personnel and/or government facilities. These incidents have occurred in less crowded areas with almost no casualties. The extremist groups’ capabilities to carry out large-scale attacks are very limited.
Punjab: Exercise sensible security precautions as frequency of low-intensity attacks likely to increase over coming months
Level: Notice
Location: Punjab - India
Category: Terrorism, Protest/Rally, Police/security operation, Election
Exercise sensible security precautions as the frequency of low-intensity attacks is likely to increase in Punjab state over the coming months. Three explosions have occurred over the past two weeks, the most recent of which took place on 5 May near military installations. A motorbike caught fire in a blast at around 20.00 (local time) near the Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters in Jalandhar city. Separately, a low-intensity grenade attack was reported around three hours later near a BSF facility on National Highway-354 on the outskirts of Amritsar city. No casualties were reported.
Advice
- Expect heightened security across the state, particularly around key government offices, military establishments and transport hubs, over the coming days, particularly in Amritsar and Jalandhar.
- Maintain heightened situational awareness and minimise time spent near security force personnel, convoys, checkpoints and facilities to mitigate the risk of incidental exposure to explosions/attacks.
- Carry relevant identification documents to ease passage through checkpoints and follow all official directives. Be patient in your dealings with the security forces and the police.
- Exercise heightened vigilance if travelling to/from Amritsar and Jalandhar over the coming weeks. Report any suspicious activity or packages to the authorities.
- Monitor our India alerts for updates.
More detail
Impact
The 5 May attacks followed an explosion along a railway freight corridor in Patiala district late on 27 April that killed the suspected bomber.
In response to the attacks, Punjab Police have increased security around the sites affected by the explosions, government buildings and military installations. The police are also likely to implement security checkpoints around transport hubs, commercial areas, key routes and districts sharing border with Pakistan.
In addition, the police will continue to conduct security operations while the investigations into the explosions in Amritsar and Jalandhar explosions are ongoing. Although a group named the Khalistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility via social media, the police have dismissed the claim. This follows the arrest on 28 April of four individuals associated with the banned pro-Khalistan group Khalistan Tiger Force in connection with the Patiala explosion. The police also seized a hand grenade, explosive materials and communication devices.
Meanwhile, the state-opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold further protests against the state chief minister following his allegations linking the party to recent explosions. On 7-8 May, BJP supporters rallied near police headquarters in the Chandigarh union territory and commissioner’s office in Jalandhar, seeking sedition charges against the chief minister.
Outlook
Low-intensity attacks in Punjab will increase in frequency ahead of the legislative assembly elections in early 2027. While recent incidents underscore the persistent risk from pro-Khalistan separatist groups, such incidents typically increase in frequency around electoral periods.
The explosions near BSF camps in Amritsar and Jalandhar demonstrate an intent to cause panic, though the group’s capabilities remain limited. Similarly, the two explosions in January in Fatehgarh Sahib district and in April in Patiala on railway freight corridors suggest that mass casualties are not the primary objective.
Between November 2024 and April 2025, a series of low-intensity grenade attacks occurred, mostly in the border districts of Amritsar and Gurdaspur. These attacks targeted vacant police outposts and stations during the late night or early morning. The use of low-intensity explosions and/or grenades by inexperienced youths reinforces our assessment that these groups possess rudimentary capabilities. Intermittent shootings targeting police officials have also been recorded in the state.
Coordinated or large-scale attacks remain unlikely. Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that future low-intensity attacks will target civilians and public places in both semi-urban and major urban centres.
Exercise enhanced caution following extension of anti-insurgency law (Revised)
Level: Notice
Location: Asom, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland states - India
Category: Conflict, Protest/Rally, Transport
Exercise enhanced caution following the extension of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) until September in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Asom, Manipur and Nagaland states. AFSPA grants additional powers, including for the execution of warrantless arrests, to the security forces operating in designated 'disturbed areas' where insurgent groups are active. The extension reflects the HIGH risk posed by ongoing low-level ethnic insurgencies in these locations. Avoid all related protests due to the risk of unrest.
Advice
- Travel to Asom, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland requires enhanced security and logistical support due to the HIGH risks posed by militant tribal and separatist activity. Travel to these areas is periodically restricted by strikes, curfews or the authorities. A special travel permit may be required.
- Defer all travel to Manipur due to the imposition of curfew and internet restrictions amid violence in the state. The security environment remains volatile, exacerbating logistical challenges, including the supply of essential commodities.
- Liaise with local contacts, monitor reliable local media for details on related demonstrations and avoid such events as a precaution. Leave an area at the first sign of unrest or if you see protesters and/or the security forces gathering there.
- Remain alert to your surroundings and report any suspicious behaviour and/or unattended items to the authorities.
- Minimise time spent around potential targets for militant attacks, including transport hubs, religious sites, markets, and government and military buildings and personnel. Monitor our India alerts for updates.
More detail
Impact
The extension of AFSPA affects the following areas:
- Asom: Charaideo, Sivasagar and Tinsukia districts.
- Arunachal Pradesh: Changlang, Longding and Tirap, as well as areas bordering Asom under the jurisdiction of the Chowkham, Mahadevpur and Namsai police stations (all Namsai district).
- Manipur: Statewide, except Bishnupur, Nambol (both Bishnupur district), Heingang, Irilbung, Porompat (all Imphal East district), the state capital Imphal, City, Lamphel, Patsoi, Singjamei, Wangoi (all Imphal West district), Kakching (Kakching district) and Thoubal (Thoubal district).
- Nagaland: Chumoukedima, Dimapur, Kiphire, Meluri, Mon, Niuland, Noklak, Peren and Phek districts and areas under the jurisdiction of the following police stations:
- Kohima district: Kohima North, Kohima South, Khuzama and Zubza police stations
- Longleng district: Yanglok police station
- Mokokchung district: Anaki ‘C’, Longchem, Longtho, Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I and Tuli police stations
- Wokha district: Bhandari, Champang and Ralan police stations
- Zunheboto district: Aghunato, Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto and Zunheboto police stations.
Outlook
Protests against the legislation may take place in urban centres, and any associated unrest and/or police action to disperse crowds will pose incidental risks to bystanders. Operations by the security forces frequently take place in locations under the AFSPA, with regular reports of arrests and confiscations of insurgent arms caches.