Amidst widespread student protests over the NEET paper leak, the Indian government has introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. The bill proposes significantly stricter punishments, including jail terms of up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs 50 lakh for individuals involved in paper leaks, and up to Rs 10 crore for organised crimes, aiming to enhance transparency and fairness in public examinations.
A Rajya Sabha lawmaker has filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi Police's alleged use of facial recognition technology and other biometric surveillance during a recent protest. The plea argues that such surveillance at peaceful assemblies is unconstitutional and lacks legal backing, seeking a declaration against its indiscriminate use and a mechanism for data access and deletion.
Students intensified their protest over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in Jharkhand with five demonstrators joining an indefinite hunger strike, even as Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday said the question paper leak issues are a national problem and offered talks to resolve the impasse.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing a deepening crisis after his proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup was abandoned, leading to public distancing from influential executives and calls for his removal from office.
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.
Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Rohit Jain has stated that India cannot rely solely on bank balance sheets to fund the extensive investment required for its 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India) goal by 2047, emphasising the critical need for deeper corporate bond, foreign exchange, and derivatives markets.
The Congress on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party over the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying not everyone in the BJP is a "chhanda chor" but all the "chhanda chors" are in the ruling party.
The Supreme Court has proposed establishing special courts for day-to-day trials in criminal cases stemming from the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence. The court also directed probe agencies to expedite investigations, ensure victims receive chargesheet copies, and asked for status reports on missing persons and ongoing cases.
Monday's proceedings demonstrated that the legislative debate has become inseparable from the broader political crisis surrounding the NEET controversy.
A Congress spokesperson, quoted in media reports, summed up the party's thinking by saying, 'Whenever BJP is in trouble on the ground, a new 'apolitical' or 'alternative' party appears with the same ideology and the same backers.'
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to credit the 8.25 per cent interest on provident funds for FY26 to 34 crore member accounts by July 15, enabled by its new centralised IT system (CITES). This upgrade promises enhanced operational efficiency, transparent services, and easier access to PF details and claims for members.
'We can integrate AI and tech into education, but that is just a means and not an end.' 'Ultimately, we need to control what happens in a classroom and we need to let teachers innovate their teaching style to suit the needs of Gen Z and beyond.'
India's largest retirement fund manager, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), is enhancing its investment governance and fund management practices, following the Reserve Bank of India's recommendations.
...and 3 lakh for harassment.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has introduced a new "Strategic Dialogue" phase in its host selection process for the 2036 Olympic Games, aiming for greater transparency and cost control. This new phase will impact India's bid, with the final host decision expected in mid-2029.
FIDE's decision to shortlist the All India Chess Federation for a prestigious FIDE Excellence Award has ignited a fierce debate within the Indian chess community.
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the forcible shifting of activist Sonam Wangchuk from a protest site at Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital during his hunger strike. The court noted that the issue of his hospitalisation had been previously addressed and dismissed the new petition, advising the petitioner to lodge an FIR if still aggrieved.
The Sports Ministry has granted conditional recognition to the interim Executive Committee of the Judo Federation of India (JFI), which was elected following a Delhi High Court order. The recognition is subject to the outcome of ongoing court cases and strict compliance with the National Sports Governance Act, with warnings of suspension or revocation for irregularities. The JFI is required to amend its constitution, conduct final elections, and submit monthly compliance reports.
The United Forum of IDBI Officers & Employees has voiced "profound concern" over the Centre's reported decision to proceed with the strategic disinvestment of its controlling stake in IDBI Bank to Fairfax Financial Holdings, urging a parliamentary review of the proposed sale.
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted the strong health cooperation within BRICS, emphasising the critical role of digital health and artificial intelligence in ensuring continuity of care. Speaking at the 16th BRICS Health Ministers' meeting, she noted shared challenges among member nations and showcased India's advancements in digital health infrastructure and AI strategy.
The Delhi High Court has declined to halt the Centre's HPV immunisation campaign, noting that data on 5.5 million administered vaccines showed no 'instant harm'. However, the court emphasised that 'half-baked vaccines' should not be given to the public and raised 'serious issues' regarding past protocol violations in vaccine testing and certification.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated 11 years of the Digital India initiative, highlighting its role in redefining governance, empowering citizens, and accelerating all-round development. He emphasised its impact on digital payments, direct benefit transfers, and expanding digital public infrastructure, making technology a powerful instrument for 'Ease of Living' across India, including tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
FIFA plans to create a $20 billion subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage the World Cup and other events, offering up to 20% stakes to external investors, a move that has drawn fierce criticism from UEFA, who accused the governing body of putting the game's 'soul' up for sale.
Student organisations across India celebrated the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, attributing it to their nationwide protests against alleged NEET irregularities. While welcoming the move as a victory, groups like NSUI, AISA, and SFI affirmed their commitment to continue agitations until broader demands for accountability, transparency, and education reforms, including scrapping the NTA and NEP, are met.
The Supreme Court has issued interim directions regarding nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak, ordering the release of minor student protesters without criminal records and directing states to preserve all digital evidence. The court also called for a fair and independent investigation into allegations of police excesses against students, while also acknowledging concerns for injured police personnel.
The government's e-marketplace platform, GeM, is significantly enhancing public procurement through the integration of AI, advanced analytics, and digital monitoring systems. This strategic adoption has led to substantial savings for the exchequer and improved transparency, while also playing a crucial role in health sector procurement.
The Indian government has defended its E20 ethanol blending programme, stating that extensive testing and field experience show no evidence of abnormal engine wear, corrosion, or reduced vehicle life, despite a potential 2-6% reduction in fuel economy.
The Supreme Court has observed a 'positive turn' in the progress of installing CCTV cameras in police stations across India, acknowledging substantial efforts made in recent months.
FIFA is facing renewed scrutiny over its inconsistent handling of two World Cup red-card cases involving England's Jarell Quansah and the USA's Folarin Balogun. While Quansah received a two-match ban, Balogun's one-match suspension was controversially suspended, leading to accusations of external interference and a lack of transparency from the governing body.
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.
Parliament was informed that UPI has onboarded 55.49 crore users by June 2026, with transactions reaching 24,162 crore in volume and Rs 314 lakh crore in value in FY 2025-26. The platform, operated by NPCI, is expanding internationally through NIPL, facilitating cross-border payments and assisting other nations in building similar systems. Significant efforts are also underway by the Government, RBI, and NPCI to enhance the security and transparency of UPI transactions, including risk-based limits, security frameworks, and public awareness campaigns against cyber-crime.
India's Code on Wages mandates strict payout deadlines, two-day full and final settlements, universal wage coverage and capped deductions to safeguard employees and enhance payroll transparency nationwide.
A Sikh caretaker couple was tragically shot dead inside a gurdwara in Mardan, Pakistan. Police have launched an investigation, forming special teams and utilising forensic resources to identify the assailants. Local lawmaker Suresh Kumar has condemned the incident, expressed concerns over the handling of evidence, and demanded swift arrests, threatening protests if progress is not made within 24 hours.
Justice Atul Sreedharan of the Allahabad High Court has made strong observations on systemic corruption in India, suggesting the death penalty for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He criticised the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple and the Uttar Pradesh government's "bulldozer actions," highlighting the normalisation of corruption and the state's complicity in unauthorised constructions.
Security has been increased at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi ahead of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's visit to meet activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on a hunger strike protesting NEET irregularities. Kejriwal has expressed support for the protest and its demand for the Union Education Minister's resignation.
Opposition legislators in Mumbai protested against the Maharashtra government, accusing it of failing to protect citizens amidst heavy monsoon rains and crumbling infrastructure. They highlighted issues like open manholes and traffic paralysis. Separately, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule demanded a statement from the Chief Minister regarding the closure of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway's Missing Link due to heavy rainfall and landslides, questioning its assessment and cost.
Taxpayers must provide more details to support deduction and exemption claims.
Meghalaya has shown significant progress in digital transactions and financial inclusion, recording 32.76 crore digital transactions and nearly 10 lakh Jan Dhan accounts by 2025-26. Efforts like the JAM Trinity and financial literacy programmes have expanded banking access, with a high percentage of bank account holders adopting digital modes. The next phase focuses on enhancing financial literacy and cyber resilience, especially in rural areas.
Indian table tennis star Manika Batra has threatened legal action against the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) if she is not provided a 'factual explanation' for her omission from the Asian Games squad.
For India, the guiding principle should remain clear: Engage Bangladesh as a sovereign nation and society rather than through the prism of any individual leader or political party, suggests Manoj Mohanka.
