India, June 22 -- On a bright Sunday afternoon at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had just landed back in the city around 1:15 pm. Usually, the next step would be a swift departure for home.

But this Sunday was different. The NEET-UG re-examination, an important day filled with hope and nerves for hundreds of thousands of students across India, was about to start at 2 pm. Many students were on their way to exam centres, hoping to become doctors.

If the Prime Minister's convoy had moved suddenly, it could have caused traffic diversions, delays, and extra stress for students rushing to their exams. Instead of going home right away, PM Modi decided to stay at the airport and wait until after the ex...