Neha Bora (also spelled Neha Bohra; born 1997) is an Indian student activist, theatre artist and PhD scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and the national president of the All India Students' Association (AISA). Bora became one of the best-known faces of India's 2026 Gen Z protests after a 23-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar alongside Sonam Wangchuk during the NEET paper-leak protests. Bora
Neha Bora
Neha Bohra
Khatima, Uttarakhand, India
Student Activist, National President Of AISA, PhD Scholar (JNU), Theatre Artist
2026–present (as a national student leader)
National President, All India Students' Association (AISA)
All India Students' Association (AISA)
Indian
Bora is the national president of the All India Students' Association (AISA), a left-wing student organisation. Under their leadership, AISA has campaigned on paper leaks, the privatisation of education and student rights, and has worked alongside the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on shared demands. In an October 2026 interview with The Hindu, Bora said AISA coordinates with the CJP "on agenda basis".
Bora gained national attention during the 2026 Jantar Mantar protests in New Delhi, where students demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak. They held a 23-day hunger strike in parallel with activist Sonam Wangchuk, which seriously affected their health, and continued the fast even after police removed Wangchuk from the protest site in July 2026. Pradhan resigned on 25 July 2026.
Bora took part in the July 2026 "Sansad Chalo" march to Parliament. After clashes between police and protesters, AISA demanded the removal of Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar over alleged police brutality against students.
On 7 August 2026, Bora joined student protests in Ranchi over irregularities in Jharkhand's public service recruitment exams. During the march, a man threw ink at them; police detained the accused. Bora alleged the attack was carried out by "RSS-BJP goons", while BJP leaders called the protest "drama".
From 2 October 2026, Bora led protests at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Police detained Bora several times, including on 4 October, when they were among about 120 people detained and were reportedly picked up in an unmarked car before being released. International media, including the BBC, The New York Times and The Straits Times, profiled Bora during these protests.
Bora has spoken on paper leaks, the privatisation of education, mob lynching, justice for Bilkis Bano and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In an interview with The Indian Express, Bora said AISA supports the release of Umar Khalid, who has been detained under the UAPA. Critics, including BJP leaders, have called the protests "anti-national", a label Bora has rejected.
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