Several members of the unreserved category and young people gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Friday to protest against the caste-based reservation system. The protesters demanded that government benefits should be based on a person’s economic condition rather than caste. They argued that financial hardship should be the main factor when deciding who needs government support.

The protesters, mostly young men, also raised objections to the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) equity regulations. They carried placards, raised slogans and waved saffron flags during the demonstration. One of the key slogans at the protest was, “Reservation for the poor, not for caste.” The protesters said students who need help with education, coaching, fees and other expenses should receive government support based on their financial condition.

The demonstration also saw strong opposition to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, commonly known as the SC/ST Act. Protesters demanded the repeal of the law. They claimed that its benefits do not always reach the most disadvantaged sections and alleged that the law can be misused against individuals. They called on the government to take steps to address what they described as gaps and misuse in the existing system.

Some demonstrators also demanded the introduction of a creamy-layer criterion in reservation policies. They sought changes in policies related to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. According to them, people who are financially well-off should not continue to receive the same benefits meant for those facing economic hardship.

One protester told news agency PTI, "We are not saying that economically weaker people should be left without support. We are saying that assistance should be targeted at those who need it, including through scholarships, fee support and coaching," The protesters maintained that their demand was not against providing assistance to poor students. Instead, they wanted the government to make economic need a key factor while deciding eligibility for scholarships, fee support and coaching.

The protesters also questioned the continuation of reservation policies several decades after their introduction. They called for a review of the existing system in view of changes in the country’s social and economic conditions. One protester said, "The circumstances have changed considerably. There should be a wider discussion on whether the existing framework needs to be reviewed and how economic disadvantage can be addressed without discrimination," The protesters said such a discussion should examine whether the current reservation framework continues to address the needs of disadvantaged groups effectively.

The protest was organised under the campaign ‘Reservation Reform Andolan’. NEET aspirant Harsh Dubey led the campaign. Members of the Rajasthan-based General Sena and Chanakya Sena joined the demonstration. The Karni Sena also participated in the agitation, making it a very large gathering at Jantar Mantar.

The protest site witnessed barricades and a heavy police presence. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) was also deployed as a precaution. The area has seen similar security arrangements during previous protests. Influencer Ajeet Bharti, who has spoken publicly about reservation and the UGC equity regulations, also attended the demonstration.

Despite the demands and strong slogans, protesters said the demonstration would remain peaceful. One protester told UP Tak, India Today’s sister channel, that they were "nationalist protesters" who had gathered to raise their demands and had no intention of engaging in violence. The protesters maintained that they wanted the government to hear their concerns through a peaceful demonstration.

The situation changed towards the end of the day when Delhi Police detained several protesters. Videos and visuals from the protest site spread across social media, particularly on Instagram. The police said the protesters did not have permission to hold such a demonstration, agitation or procession at Jantar Mantar.

A police official said an NOC had instead been issued for a peaceful protest at Ramlila Ground. The permission allowed a maximum of 500 people to participate and was valid until 4 pm. The police action came as the gathering at Jantar Mantar continued despite the lack of permission for the protest at the location.