{
  "id": 79167,
  "title": "NEET aspirants stage silent protest in Visakhapatnam seeking end to caste-based reservation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/neet-aspirants-stage-silent-protest-in-visakhapatnam-seeking-end-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-03T09:51:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/neet-aspirants-stage-silent-protest-in-visakhapatnam-seeking-end-to-caste-based-reservation/article71300405.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On August 3, 2026, a group of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) aspirants protested silently near the Gandhi statue in Visakhapatnam, India. Organized by the Jana Jagarana Samiti, the silent demonstration aimed to draw attention to the Reservation Hatao Andolan (RHA) GEN-Z campaign. The protesters donned black ribbons covering their mouths, symbolizing their call for the abolition of the current reservation system.\n\nDuring the protest, S.L.N. Vasu, the state convenor of the Jana Jagarana Samiti, addressed the assembly of students. Mr. Vasu questioned the reservation policy, asserting that it denied opportunities to meritorious students. He urged the central government to conduct a thorough review of the policy, advocating for reservations based on economic criteria rather than caste. Mr. Vasu also called for regular reviews of the reservation system, minimum qualifying marks for all candidates, and an end to political promises made during election seasons regarding reservations.",
  "summary": "Participants wore black ribbons across their mouths at the Gandhi statue; State convener S.L.N. Vasu sought a periodic review of the reservation system and minimum qualifying marks for all candidates",
  "key_points": [
    "NEET aspirants staged silent protest on August 3, 2026, in Visakhapatnam.",
    "Jana Jagarana Samiti organized demonstration against reservation system.",
    "Protesters demanded caste-based reservation abolition and economic criteria-based reservations."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}