A protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in New Delhi's Connaught Place and Janpath areas turned violent, with demonstrators allegedly pelting stones at security personnel and damaging vehicles. The 'Chalo Sansad' march led to significant disruption, traffic snarls, and the deployment of additional security forces.
Amidst widespread student protests and allegations of paper leaks, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's dharna outside the Prime Minister's residence has prompted the government to declare its willingness for a comprehensive parliamentary debate on the contentious NEET examination.
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.
Top BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah and party president Nitin Nabin, met at PM Modi's residence ahead of the Parliament's Monsoon session, amidst speculation of a party and cabinet reshuffle.
Additional Commissioner of Police-Punjabi Bagh, Jai Prakash, sustained a minor fracture after being hit by a stone during a Cockroach Janata Party-led protest near Jantar Mantar, where at least two ACPs and four other personnel were injured.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor criticised the proposal to increase the Lok Sabha's strength to 850, while BJP leaders defended delimitation as a democratic necessity at the Stanford India Conference 2026.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has moved a privilege notice before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against three senior officials, alleging a serious breach of protocol and contemptuous conduct after she was asked to vacate a circuit house in West Bengal's Krishnanagar late in the night on August 14.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 80th Independence Day address, expressed strong confidence that India will achieve developed nation status by 2047, urging citizens to embrace big dreams and unwavering resolve to realise 'Viksit Bharat'. He highlighted India's economic transformation and significant growth in various sectors, including defence production, electronic manufacturing, and mobile phone production.
Hundreds of students and supporters returned to Jantar Mantar to protest alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination, asserting that police action on Monday had only strengthened their resolve. The demonstration, joined by parents, reiterated demands for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and called for greater transparency and fairness in competitive exams.
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.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur has submitted a notice of breach of privilege and contempt of the House against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alleging use of "unparliamentary and derogatory language" and "unsubstantiated allegations" against Home Minister Amit Shah during a Lok Sabha debate.
Following the Supreme Court's clean chit in the coal block allocation case, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has lauded former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's integrity and accountability, drawing a sharp contrast with the Narendra Modi government's operational style and alleged misuse of investigative agencies.
President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, which introduces fast-track courts and significantly enhances punishment for those involved in public examination question paper leaks.
The Supreme Court refused an urgent hearing for a plea challenging police action against students during a protest march in Delhi. The Chief Justice of India declined to review video evidence of alleged police brutality, stating the court was not interested in watching videos. The protest, led by the Cockroach Janta Party, saw thousands of students demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities, leading to clashes with security personnel.
'Chal bhai, uth.' Get up. He said it to the politicians like they worked for him. International press has come, he announced. Rotters, BBC, Newsweek.
The Supreme Court has clarified that 'criminal antecedents' for NEET paper leak protesters refer only to grave and heinous offences, allowing state governments to withdraw FIRs against students not involved in such serious crimes. This comes after the Centre's commitment to not pursue cases against most protesting students.
'You cannot run Parliament with 800 MPs as nobody will get time (to speak in Parliament). And Parliament sits for barely 60 days in a year.' 'Look at the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. They have 650 MPs and they sit for 150 days on an average in a year.'
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Tuesday warned of a fresh nationwide protest, alleging that the Centre was citing the Supreme Court's interim order in a batch of PILs related to its agitation to avoid giving a promised written assurance on withdrawing the FIRs against protesters.
The Union Cabinet has approved a draft bill to introduce stricter punishments for examination paper leaks, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement. This new legislation builds upon the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, aiming to curb cheating in public examinations conducted by various central agencies amidst recent controversies like the NEET and NET paper leaks.
The Rajya Sabha has passed The Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026, which aims to replace a British-era law and allow digital and virtual records to be admissible as evidence in courts. This legislation aligns with contemporary digital banking practices and extends a uniform evidential framework to various financial entities, including NBFCs and fintech companies. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the bill's role in strengthening public confidence and safeguarding customer privacy. The bill's passage, however, saw an Opposition walkout over unrelated issues.
Families of students detained during the Cockroach Janta Party protest in Delhi said they had been unable to contact them for hours and did not know whether any charges had been filed, as concerns mounted over the whereabouts of those detained.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has extended his indefinite hunger strike, stating he will continue until youth leaders meet parliamentarians or he is allowed to do so from the hospital. This decision follows police action against protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party's "Sansad Chalo" march, where thousands were detained while demanding accountability for alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The Lok Sabha stalemate is expected to conclude as Speaker Om Birla has secured an agreement from all political parties to discuss the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill 2026. This bill proposes stricter punishments, including up to 10 years in jail and a Rs 50 lakh fine, for paper leak offences, following recent nationwide student protests over the NEET fiasco.
Students at NALSAR University of Law have written to the university administration, opposing the proposal to invite the Chief Justice of India as the chief guest for their convocation. Their objection stems from the CJI-led Supreme Court bench's refusal to urgently list a plea concerning alleged police brutality during a 'Chalo Sansad' protest, which students feel contradicts the university's values.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has declared his hunger strike will persist beyond the 'Sansad Chalo' march, demanding government accountability for education system failures or assurances from political leaders to address the issue in Parliament. He also alleges 'illegal detention' at Safdarjung Hospital.
A Zero FIR has been registered in Noida against a woman, Ruchika Singh, for allegedly using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The complaint, filed by Smriti Singh, alleges that the accused hurt the dignity of the constitutional office and intended to spread hatred. The case, registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, will be transferred to New Delhi for further investigation. The incident occurred during the Cockroach Janta Party's protests against competitive examination paper leaks, which led to the education minister's resignation.
The Kayastha Pathshala Trust has revoked permission for Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Prayagraj, citing an Allahabad High Court order restricting the use of KP College ground and waterlogging. Despite the cancellation, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai insists Gandhi will still interact with students on August 8 and has sought an alternative venue, alleging political obstruction.
'Instead of choosing dialogue, the government chose repression... Force ought to be the last resort, not the first.'
The Indian government has clarified that consumers will not be charged for UPI transactions, and most merchant transactions will also remain free. This comes amidst speculation following an amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. Any future merchant discount rate (MDR) would be nominal, threshold-based, and aimed at ensuring UPI's long-term sustainability and infrastructure development.
Cockroach Janta Party protesters allegedly pelted stones at police personnel near Jantar Mantar on Tuesday evening, prompting authorities to deploy heavy security in the area, sources said.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has decided to continue his indefinite hunger strike despite appeals, stating that ending it without government response would send the wrong message. He is urging supporters to join the Cockroach Janta Party's Parliament march on July 20 to press for accountability regarding alleged NEET irregularities.
David Owori, the 28-year-old captain of Ugandan football club SC Villa and an international player, has died after being critically injured in an assault by unidentified assailants in Kampala.
The NDA's parliamentary party meetings will now be known as 'Mangal Milan', with the first under this new name scheduled for July 21. This change was informally discussed in the Union cabinet. Additionally, the newly formed Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), comprising 20 MPs who defected from the TMC, is seeking formal recognition and parliamentary facilities, including a party office and designated floor leaders.
All's well with the State; it's the citizens who have to really buck up, was the sum and substance of Mohan Bhagwat's message to Gen Z.
The Supreme Court asserted that the right to peaceful protest is 'absolutely guaranteed' and an agitation cannot justify 'police excesses' or a 'lathi charge,' while agreeing to hear pleas concerning alleged police brutality against students protesting the NEET paper leak.
Abhijeet Dipke, convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has initiated the 'School Thik Karo' campaign from his native village in Hingoli, Maharashtra, to address the alleged neglect of government schools and advocate for a fee cap on private educational institutions.
At this point at 85, Sharad Pawar is like a mature but ageing trapeze artist who is assessing if he will still land on his feet if he jumps from the safe perch of INDIA to the NDA. Can a Great Betrayal be presented as a tactical move? Watch Sharad Pawar do it, predicts Aditi Phadnis.
The BJP is significantly increasing its digital engagement with young people on Instagram, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers, in response to the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and subsequent student protests. This strategic shift aims to counter the narrative and communicate government actions on examination reforms.
US Vice-President J D Vance's unexpected phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 8 has ignited speculation about a potential diplomatic overture, possibly seeking India's support amidst the escalating US-Iran conflict and a shifting global power landscape, suggests Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
A joint parliamentary committee has received an extension to submit its report on a significant bill. The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposes the removal of a prime minister, chief minister, or other ministers if they are jailed for 30 consecutive days on serious charges. The committee, chaired by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, needs further consultations before finalising its report.
