The Supreme Court has informed the Centre that it will closely monitor the steps taken to curb NEET examination paper leaks, emphasising that 'ad hocism has caused trouble for years' and demanding a comprehensive overhaul of the examination process.
As they say some doors open because of who you know, and some, it turns out, open just because of where you're from, recalls Binu Alex.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra has suspended its planned July 20 strike following the Bombay High Court's intervention in a doctor assault case. However, the medical fraternity has issued a strong warning to the Maharashtra government, threatening an indefinite statewide strike from August 9 if their demands for enhanced doctor safety, including amendments to existing laws and a new ordinance, are not met.
Vande Mataram, the national song that has stirred passions and political controversies for more than a century, received legal protection on Thursday with Parliament passing a bill making any insult to it a punishable offence, rekindling the long-running debate over its place in India's history and identity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the formation of a high-powered task force, led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, to recommend reforms for examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The task force aims to leverage technology for a robust and transparent examination system, following recent public agitation and the resignation of the Education Minister.
Kangana Ranaut said some of the women protestors were "so ugly and corrupt that they can't be home makers either"
Former poll strategist Prashant Kishor made a stunning electoral debut by winning Bihar's Bankipur assembly seat, a long-held BJP bastion. Concurrently, the Congress retained the Datia assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh, while the BJP successfully held onto the Manjalpur seat in Gujarat, showcasing mixed results for the ruling and opposition parties in these crucial by-elections.
The Congress on Sunday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the US' statements after three Indian sailors were killed in American attacks on ships, with party leader Rahul Gandhi saying the "compromised PM" listens "like an obedient servant" and "complies with the orders".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly acknowledged India's significant support, directly refuting American Vice President J D Vance's assertion that the US was Israel's only powerful ally. Netanyahu highlighted India's 1.4 billion people and the "tremendous support" received, including on social media, while also noting Israel's strong relationships with other nations seeking its cybersecurity and AI expertise.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has voiced his support for the ongoing student protests against exam paper leaks, characterising it as a "revolt against feeling of suppression in a democracy." His comments follow similar calls from other prominent sports personalities like Sachin Tendulkar and Shubman Gill for lasting solutions. Students are demanding the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured steps to protect student interests amidst the protests, which recently saw a 'Sansad Chalo' march met with police action.
BJP leaders and other political figures visited the family of Shivanand Chaurasia in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, who was among three Indian crew members killed in an attack on merchant ships off the Oman coast. They offered condolences and assured the family of government and party support. Shivanand, an engine fitter, was on a tanker targeted on June 10, and his body was recovered on Thursday.
Families of Delhi Police personnel injured during the July 20 CJP-led 'Sansad Chalo' march are calling for a parliamentary discussion on the trauma and injuries suffered by officers, arguing that the public discourse has unfairly focused solely on allegations of police excesses.
'It will take a long time to recover from the impact of this war.'
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has stated he will end his indefinite hunger strike if the Centre provides an unequivocal assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action will be taken against students and youth who participated in protests against alleged examination irregularities.
Bangladesh is actively pursuing a cricket series against India in September, utilising sports diplomacy to mend strained bilateral ties following a controversy involving Mustafizur Rahman and Bangladesh's subsequent T20 World Cup boycott.
The Yoga Federation of India (YFI) announced its intention to seek recognition from the Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) following a Delhi High Court decision. The court set aside Yogasana Bharat's national federation status, mandating a fresh affiliation process. YFI plans to meet with IOA President P T Usha and Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya to present its vision for Yogasana development.
Nirmal Kumar, an Indian survivor of the recent speedboat tragedy near Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam, has recounted the horrific moments when a sudden, violent wave capsized their boat, trapping 15 passengers underwater. The accident, which occurred on July 11, claimed the lives of 15 Indian tourists, with 10 from Tamil Nadu. Kumar, who lost a childhood friend, highlighted the lack of immediate medical supplies and appealed for government assistance for the grieving families.
Brigadier Basant Kumar Ponwar (Retd), a distinguished veteran of the 1971 Indo-Pak War and the visionary behind India's modern jungle warfare strategies against Maoist insurgency, has passed away at 77. His extensive career spanned over five decades, contributing significantly to national defence through both the Indian Army and police forces, including founding the Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College.
The Congress escalated its campaign against alleged examination irregularities by marching to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, transforming the issue into a direct challenge to his political authority and demanding the resignations of top government officials.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called off its 36-day agitation following the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who stepped down amidst widespread protests over irregularities in the exam system and the NEET paper leak. The government also agreed to the CJP's demands for 1 crore compensation to families of students who died by suicide and no action against protesters.
Mizoram has declared a full holiday for educational institutions and a half-day for government offices to allow residents to watch the FIFA World Cup final. Chief Minister Lalduhoma highlighted the state's passion for football and the importance of the sport to its youth.
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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has surpassed Jawaharlal Nehru's record to become India's longest-serving democratically elected Prime Minister. He expressed gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu, NDA chief ministers, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for their wishes, attributing his achievements to the collective efforts and aspirations of 140 crore Indians and reaffirming his commitment to a 'Viksit Bharat'.
Few leaders since Independence have been able to establish such a direct connection with the electorate or shape the national conversation to the extent that Narendra Modi has done over the past decade, points out former Union minister Dr Karan Singh.
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, the IAF chief, has strongly advocated for India to achieve greater self-reliance in unmanned aerial systems and other critical defence technologies, stating, "Technology delayed is technology denied." He stressed the importance of indigenous development to avoid dependency on other countries for components.
A digital profiling exercise by the Delhi government has revealed significant infrastructure deficiencies in government schools, including shortages of drinking water taps, lack of facilities for children with special needs, and structurally unsafe buildings.
Indian boxing icon Vijender Singh is planning to establish a boxing academy in his ancestral village of Kaluwas, Bhiwani, and has sought financial assistance from the Sports Ministry.
It was left to an incensed Gen Z to show the rest of India that enough was enough, and that the time had come to shatter the fear psychosis generated by the government's authoritarian approach to protests and criticism, points out M R Narayan Swamy.
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.
Chhattisgarh's weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav has won a silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, bringing pride to the state and the country.
ServiceNow Vice Chairman Nick Tzitzon highlights India's potential to develop an AI-native government model, emphasising enhanced public services, data privacy, and economic growth.
'After that the burdens of an ageing population will be upon us, and the share of working age population will shrink.'
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).
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 foreign policy establishment is adjusting with alacrity in real time -- an extraordinary spectacle in itself, considering the manifest reluctance to indulge in public diplomacy critical of American moves, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
India has successfully evacuated 59 vessels, including 23 Indian-flagged and 36 foreign-flagged ships carrying cargo for India, from the Strait of Hormuz since March 1, 2026, amid fresh attacks and declining shipping traffic, Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal informed the Rajya Sabha.
The Bombay High Court has quashed a year-long externment order against a political leader, ruling that involvement in agitations and protests against the government cannot be the sole basis for such orders. Justice Madhav Jamdar stated that externment for opposing government decisions affects fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and expression.
India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has sought an explanation from WhatsApp regarding its username feature, citing concerns over potential cybercrime facilitation. Concurrently, the ministry is investigating reported data leak allegations involving Tata Electronics, a key supplier for Apple's iPhone components in India. MeitY is also exploring techno-legal solutions for VPNs to address challenges posed by unregistered providers operating from outside India.
The Indian government has issued a notice to Meta regarding WhatsApp's upcoming username feature, warning the platform not to roll it out until concerns about potential fraud, impersonation, and public safety are addressed to the government's satisfaction.
The Haryana government has authorised the CBI to investigate the alleged involvement of five IAS officers in a Rs 590-crore fraud case involving IDFC First Bank. The CBI can now summon the officers for questioning.
