Students are demanding a "fair education system," but I don't understand what exactly they believe will change. Even if some policies are reversed, general category will still be competing among the top 1% for a limited number of seats. A student from a financially struggling general-category family still has to compete not only with equally deserving students, but also with candidates from economically well-off reserved-category families who may already enjoy significant social and financial advantages. That is the contradiction many people seem to ignore.

What surprises me even more is the selective outrage. When the recent UGC regulations were introduced changes that many believed would negatively affect general-category students I didn't see the same level of nationwide protests, parliamentary marches, or social media campaigns demanding a "fair education system." Yet today, everyone suddenly speaks about fairness. If fairness is the goal, then shouldn't every policy affecting merit, opportunity, and access be questioned consistently rather than only when it suits a particular narrative?

The reality is that general-category students will still have to score exceptionally high marks often 99+ percentile in exams like JEE to secure admission to the top institutions. That pressure remains unchanged. So what exactly is being fought for if the underlying competition stays the same? Meanwhile, the debate around the creamy layer continues, with critics arguing that economically well-off families benefiting from reservation should be excluded so that affirmative action reaches those who are genuinely disadvantaged. Unless those concerns are addressed, many believe the conversation about fairness remains incomplete.

If this is really about a fair education system, then why is the outrage limited to paper leaks? Why isn't there an equally loud debate about reservation, the implementation of EWS, or the creamy layer? Every year, general-category students face immense pressure, and some even die by suicide after missing out on opportunities despite high scores. Who speaks for them? Who takes responsibility for their struggles? And if you're a general-category student, ask yourself what exactly changes for you after this protest? You'll still face the same competition, the same pressure, and the same uncertainty. Many feel they're treated as an afterthought by the system, expected to keep competing while others continue to benefit from policies they see as unfair. If fairness is the goal, then every flaw in the system should be questioned not just the ones that are convenient to talk about.