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.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk is receiving medical intervention at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, where his condition is being closely monitored by a team of experts. He was forcibly taken to the hospital on the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike, which he began on June 28 to protest alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and demand the Union Education Minister's resignation. Despite stable vital parameters, his blood parameters remain altered due to prolonged fasting, necessitating continuous medical care.
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.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned following weeks of widespread protests and public outrage over examination paper leaks, particularly the NEET-UG controversy, leading to jubilant scenes at Jantar Mantar as demonstrators declared 'victory'.
Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor secured a significant victory in the Bankipur assembly bypoll, defeating the BJP candidate by over 19,000 votes. Kishor attributed his win to support from disgruntled members of major parties and potentially Gen Z protests, while firmly rejecting any future political alliances. He claimed the mandate was a wake-up call for the BJP-led government in Bihar and its Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, giving his party its maiden presence in the state assembly.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk's health is rapidly deteriorating on his 17th day of hunger strike, prompting widespread appeals from prominent political figures and Bollywood celebrities for him to end his fast and for the government to address the urgent demands for NEET examination reforms.
Social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying violence and police action during the students' ongoing protest in Delhi were "deeply distressing", and asserted that "dialogue" was always preferable to confrontation in a democracy.
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.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital after his health significantly declined on the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, protesting alleged NEET examination irregularities. Despite his hospitalisation, other activists continue their fast.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended his 26-day indefinite hunger strike after Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met him and conveyed the government's assurances regarding his demands, including not registering cases against peaceful protesters and considering compensation for NEET paper leak victims.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday urged its supporters to gather at the Jantar Mantar in large numbers ahead of its proposed 'Sansad Chalo' march on Monday, claiming that there could be a police crackdown on the protest.
Veteran Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat lauded the nation's youth as the 'force that shapes the future' following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation amidst the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, stating that 'democracy won and fear lost'.
A group of prominent Indian citizens, including Arundhati Roy and Naseeruddin Shah, have appealed to protesters on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar to end their fast due to health concerns, while fully supporting their demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over alleged NEET irregularities.
CJP, launched last month, has rapidly gained social media traction among students and young people focusing on youth and education issues
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.
'But they had nothing to negotiate as the government did not negotiate. It is completely the fault of the government as they dumped it on the police.'
Dharmendra Pradhan's political career faced an unexpected jolt as he resigned as Education Minister following nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak, marking a significant departure from the government's initial dismissive response to the agitation.
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.
The Supreme Court has stated that a complete ban on pellet guns is not possible as long as existing advisories permit their use for crowd control in exceptional circumstances by security agencies. However, the court clarified that allegations of specific misuse can be examined on a case-by-case basis, particularly in light of recent protests against the NEET paper leak.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh refuted Rahul Gandhi's allegations in Lok Sabha that Home Minister Amit Shah ordered firing on students protesting the NEET fiasco. Singh clarified that no bullets were fired, only tear gas was used, and the authority to order firing rests with a magistrate, not a minister. He also dismissed Gandhi's claims about Shah's cavalcade and foreign travel, criticising the opposition leader for making unsubstantiated remarks during a heated parliamentary debate.
An Indian Parliamentary panel has summoned major social media platforms like Meta, Google, X, and Snapchat, along with MeitY and Home Affairs officials, to discuss the regulation of digital platforms. The meeting, scheduled for August 3, will focus on user privacy, public order, and the platforms' role in recent protests.
'Whatever is happening is wrong. Why is the government sleeping? This is wrong.'
Following the change in the Education ministry, students involved in the CJP protests express hope for significant reforms. Their key demands include greater transparency in the exam system, affordable and quality education, and improved government schools, highlighting the widespread desire for a more equitable and effective education system in India.
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.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has alleged that "some people from RSS" were behind an attack on him in Jaipur, claiming it was an attempt to divert attention from the NEET (UG) paper leak issue. Dipke, who is leading a protest in Nagpur demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, vowed to continue his peaceful agitation despite such incidents.
'After more than 12 years in power, he has been forced to retreat under public pressure. The education minister's resignation is the biggest political climbdown of his government so far.'
As activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike at Jantar Mantar entered the sixth day on Friday, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said he appeared "far weaker and more exhausted" and urged supporters across the country to observe a one-day fast in solidarity with the protest.
Educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has stated his hunger has 'stabilised' on the 13th day of his indefinite fast, asserting his constitutional right to protest should not be violated by attempts to remove him from the site. He continues to support the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) demands for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and government accountability over alleged examination irregularities, as well as an early resolution for Ladakh's issues.
The Lok Sabha has approved an amendment to India's anti-paper leak law, introducing stricter punishments including jail terms of up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs 50 lakh, in response to recent large-scale student protests and the NEET paper leak case.
The Delhi High Court is hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the "intrusive surveillance" of protesters at Jantar Mantar. The Solicitor General argued that videography is for law and order, not snooping, while the petitioner contended it violates privacy. The court has asked police about protest regulation guidelines.
An activist in Mathura, India, protested the pollution of the Yamuna River by dressing as a cockroach and staging a demonstration at the municipal corporation office.
India is set to introduce a new amendment to its anti-paper leak law in the Lok Sabha, aiming to establish fast-track courts across all states and union territories for swift trials and significantly harsher penalties for exam malpractices, including jail terms of 5 to 10 years and fines up to Rs 50 lakh for individuals, and up to Rs 10 crore for organised crimes.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital after his health deteriorated during his 21-day indefinite hunger strike, marking the first significant action under new Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by Abhijit Dipke, is staging a protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities and repeated paper leaks. Dipke has stated he will not leave until their demands are met and has requested Delhi Police to extend permission for the ongoing demonstration.
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.
Speaking to reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dipke also claimed that the protest organised under the CJP's banner at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday was largely successful, with around 7,000 people participating in it.
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has clarified that his character Phunsukh Wangdu in the film "3 Idiots" was not based on activist Sonam Wangchuk, addressing a widespread misconception. Khan expressed concern over Wangchuk's ongoing hunger strike in Delhi, urging him to end it for his health.
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.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke plans to return to India to launch a peaceful protest seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination-related lapses.
As Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike enters its 19th day, critics question why the government has remained silent despite mounting concerns over student welfare, observes Harishchandra.
