Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the "most anti-youth" PM in the country's history as he accused the government of not just failing the youth but also pouncing on them.
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The Congress party has criticised the Modi government's announcement of a new committee on exam reforms, alleging it is a tactic to divert public attention. The opposition highlighted that recommendations from a previous committee formed in 2024 remain largely unimplemented, while Prime Minister Modi has now constituted another high-powered task force led by Nandan Nilekani to reform NTA examinations.
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Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition, has written to Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding accountability for the "barbaric assault" on students protesting in Delhi. Gandhi questioned the use of "lethal force," including pellet guns, and sought clarification on who authorised the violence against students, many of whom suffered serious injuries. The protests, spearheaded by the CJP movement, gained national momentum following the NEET paper leak and subsequent police crackdown.
'Whether they change uniforms or try to rewrite history through education policy, no matter what they do... You have seen what the youth of our country think about this...'
Actor Dia Mirza has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's delayed and unempathetic response to ongoing student protests concerning alleged NEET exam irregularities and paper leaks. She highlighted his focus on fast-track courts over addressing the emotional distress of affected students and parents.
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has publicly supported students protesting against repeated exam paper leaks, emphasising the importance of meritocracy and condemning shortcuts. The ongoing protests, which have seen violent clashes, are spearheaded by the Cockroach Janata Party and Sonam Wangchuk, demanding the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the NEET paper leaks and subsequent student suicides.
A fresh clash erupted between protesters from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in Dhemaji district, leading to police firing in the air, as an indefinite economic blockade against Arunachal Pradesh entered its second day over land encroachment issues and an earlier firing incident.
While intense protests were seen in Mandya and preventive detentions carried out at several places, life remained unaffected in major urban centres like Bengaluru and Mysuru.
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The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has expressed readiness to engage in talks with the government regarding ongoing protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. However, the CJP insists that any discussions must occur at a neutral venue, not a minister's residence, and that the government must genuinely address their demands, which include the resignation of the Union Education Minister and compensation for affected students.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has voiced strong support for protesting students, asserting that their demand for the removal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is non-negotiable. He contrasted the students as India's future with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the past, encouraging the students to continue their agitation at Jantar Mantar.
Maharashtra BJP minister Chandrakant Patil claimed Delhi Police are collecting fingerprints from stones used in the CJP agitation and linking them to Aadhaar numbers for protester identification and background checks. This statement, made in Kolhapur, drew sharp criticism and mockery from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who suggested Patil be nominated for a Nobel Prize for his "scientific innovation." The CJP protest at Jantar Mantar involved clashes and stone-pelting over examination paper leaks.
Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is significant because it punctures, however slightly, the perception that the Modi government never retreats under pressure. Every long-serving government eventually reaches a point where every institutional failure is identified with the leader himself. Removing the minister may have prevented that political burden from falling directly on Modi. Whether it also resolves the underlying crisis is another matter, notes Ramesh Menon.
The Cockroach Janata Party's protest site in New Delhi was dismantled by police following a thwarted march to Parliament that involved tear gas and baton charges. Despite the police action, protesters regrouped at Jantar Mantar, vowing to continue their agitation until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns over alleged examination irregularities. Activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike stage was also removed, but leaders confirmed the movement's resolve.
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A social media post by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi's daughter celebrating Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Union Education Minister, has ignited an internal controversy within the BJP.
Voters who exercise their franchise in favour of a particular political dispensation do not do so unconditionally. Their loyalty is subject to maintaining trust and living up to their expectations. It is subject to allowing the freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution, points out Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for staging a protest outside the Prime Minister's residence regarding the NEET paper-leak issue. Pradhan accused Gandhi of using students as "political tools" to disrupt Parliament, while asserting the government's commitment to discussing NEET concerns in the House. The incident involved Gandhi and other opposition leaders being detained after refusing to end their sit-in.
Amidst escalating student protests over alleged NEET examination irregularities, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan held a crucial meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, highlighting the growing pressure on the government for exam reforms.
The family of a 15-year-old girl, whose alleged abusive remarks against PM Modi went viral, is untraceable from their Noida residence. Local police deny receiving harassment complaints, while the family had previously appealed to the PM for forgiveness and claimed police visits.
With the duration of stay capped at four years, the biggest impact of the new F-1 visa rules is likely to be on PhD scholars, students enrolled in longer professional programmes, those whose graduation gets delayed and students moving from one academic programme to another, highlight education experts.
Despite a typhoid diagnosis, Abhijeet Dipke has reaffirmed his commitment to the nationwide protest demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
Double Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker has voiced her concern over student protests against alleged exam paper leaks, advocating for every child's fundamental right to education, safety, and a fair chance at life. She emphasised that the issue transcends politics and demands greater accountability to protect the nation's future.
At least 12 people from Assam were injured in alleged firing by miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh along the interstate border in Dhemaji district on Monday over encroachment of land, the police said.
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Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his wife Fatema are set to launch ACE Juniors, a new-age early learning centre on July 29, focusing on developing creativity, emotional intelligence, and communication in children.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to alter hiring patterns in South Asia, with multinational companies (MNCs) and firms integrated into global value chains (GVCs) reducing recruitment more sharply than domestic firms, signalling the technology's early impact on the region's export-oriented services sector, according to the World Bank's World Development Report 2026.
Opposition leaders have sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to 'forgive' young protesters who used abusive language, accusing him of deflecting from issues of alleged police action and a 'broken education system'.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned from his post, stating he sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent 'anti-national forces' from exploiting the situation arising from widespread protests over examination irregularities.
Student protests in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams have intensified, leading to a state-wide bandh called by the BJP and a march by the ABVP to the state assembly. The agitation, now in its 18th day, has seen police action against demonstrators, an ED money laundering probe, and the arrest of a former JPSC chairperson, while talks between the government and students remain deadlocked.
Underlining that students are the "architects of India's future," President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the government is taking comprehensive steps to reform public examinations to completely curb paper leaks and unfair means, making the system transparent, secure, and trustworthy.
Youth protests demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET paper leak have intensified.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chief spokesperson Saurav Das has termed Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation 'non-negotiable' amidst ongoing protests over the NEET-UG paper leak, while Union Health Minister JP Nadda has called for an in-depth discussion on the issue in Parliament.
The Congress-led Opposition is set to keep the pressure on the government in Parliament over the alleged police brutality against protesting students, demanding action against those responsible for the assault and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said on Sunday.
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Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) representatives Abhijeet Dipke and Saurav Das have accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers of disrupting ongoing student protests, pelting stones, and attempting to defame protesters. They also reiterated the 'non-negotiable' demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation amidst the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, while Union Health Minister JP Nadda urged against politicising the issue.
When humour combines with a good cause.
