The resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after a 36-day protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), including Sonam Wangchuk's 26-day hunger strike, has highlighted instances where the Narendra Modi government has changed course. According to reports from Business Standard, while such reversals have been uncommon, there have been several instances since 2014 where the Centre withdrew legislation, amended laws, delayed implementation or dropped proposals following sustained protests or opposition pressure.
The Modi government sought to amend the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 through an ordinance soon after coming to power. The proposed changes eased consent requirements and social impact assessment for projects in defence, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and industrial corridors. However, as reported by Business Standard, the ordinance was re-promulgated three times but faced resistance from opposition parties and farmer groups, including some RSS-affiliated organisations. In August 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the ordinance would not be renewed, with the government requesting states to use existing law while protecting farmers' interests.
In March 2018, the Supreme Court issued directions preventing alleged misuse of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which triggered nationwide protests by Dalit organisations. Parliament responded by passing the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2018, restoring original provisions by removing preliminary inquiry requirements before FIR registration. According to Business Standard, the Centre enacted three farm laws in 2020 that sparked year-long protests, particularly by farmer unions from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. On November 19, 2021, Prime Minister Modi announced the government's decision to repeal all three farm laws, stating the government had been unable to convince a section of farmers despite its efforts.
Parliament passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in December 2019, which made religion a criterion for granting Indian citizenship to undocumented migrants from six non-Muslim communities who entered India before December 31, 2014. As reported by Business Standard, the law triggered protests across several parts of the country in late 2019 and early 2020. Although the Act received Presidential assent in December 2019, the government did not notify the required rules for implementation for more than four years. The rules were finally notified in March 2024, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
In August 2024, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) issued a notification for lateral recruitment to 45 posts of Joint Secretary, Director and Deputy Secretary in various central government departments. According to Business Standard, the proposal drew criticism from opposition parties, which argued it bypassed reservation provisions available in regular civil services recruitment. Following political backlash, Union Minister Jitendra Singh wrote to the UPSC requesting cancellation of the recruitment process, stating the Modi government remained committed to social justice and that recruitment through lateral entry should align with reservation principles.
