Apple has removed the offline messaging app Bitchat from its India App Store following a demand from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Developed by Jack Dorsey, Bitchat faced scrutiny under Section 69(A) of the IT Act, 2000, due to concerns about its potential misuse by anti-national elements and for evading lawful surveillance, especially during public disorder. This marks the second time the app has faced government action in India.
A young woman is on ventilator support at RML Hospital after sustaining injuries during police action at a CJP protest in New Delhi. The protest, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, involved thousands marching towards Parliament to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities. Both police personnel and protesters reported injuries.
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.
'Details of accounts such as the name, email id associated with the account, the IP address will now be shared with law enforcement agencies, which will help track down offenders faster.'
Rahul Kranti, a 40-year-old protester, is on a hunger strike in Jharkhand, demanding the cancellation of all state-level recruitment exams conducted by JPSC and JSSC since 2019 and a CBI and ED probe into alleged irregularities. He claims to have cleared several exams but remains jobless due to corruption.
The Mumbai police on Thursday ordered a probe and removed a police driver from the duty roster after a viral video purportedly showed him threatening student protesters with false narcotics charges if they returned to demonstrate.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to discuss resolving the persistent deadlock in the Lok Sabha's monsoon session, focusing on the Delimitation Bill and FCRA Bill, though no immediate commitment was secured from the Congress leader.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk released a video detailing his experience at Safdarjung Hospital, where he alleged he was prevented from leaving despite a Delhi High Court order. Hospital authorities claim the video was recorded before they received the official court order and in a no-videography zone. Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike for examination reforms, later ended his fast at Medanta Hospital after government assurances.
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.
The challenge thrown by the youth movement creates the opportunity for a more consequential debate on India's economic trajectory because it must remain centered on India's youth as its driving impulse, asserts former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
What was it like to be at the 2026 Delhi and Mumbai protests? Harsh Patel, 29, shares his first-hand experience of the Jantar Mantar march, the NEET paper leak protests, police action and why the movement gave him hope.
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee has been suspended from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the Monsoon session due to his use of "unsavoury" language against women members during a heated exchange with NCPI members.
At least two assistant commissioners of police (ACPs) and four personnel were injured in a stone-pelting incident by protesters near Jantar Mantar on Wednesday evening, police sources said.
The Centre on Monday made public the rules under the recently-notified anti-paper leak law, mandating the National Recruitment Agency (NRA) to prepare norms, standards and guidelines for the computer-based tests among others.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged girl students to "smash patriarchy" and criticised the "Manusmriti mindset" during an interaction in Pune, highlighting issues of sexual harassment, safety, and economic independence for women.
Easing Gyanesh Kumar out would create a hazardous political precedent because forcing out a top official, due to public pressure, projects an image of reactive, defensive governing. Furthermore, making a high-level official like the CEC to hand in his papers would validate Opposition claims that Constitutional referees have been compromised, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday accused the Delhi Police of using excessive force against protesters during its "Sansad Chalo" march, alleging that several students were injured and Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, was pushed around, as the outfit continued its protest with a sit-in near Kerala House, after police dismantled the stage at Jantar Mantar.
Young students are diverting their personal savings, originally intended for gadgets or college expenses, to fund their participation in the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar, highlighting their commitment to issues affecting their future.
'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.'
Thousands of job aspirants in Jharkhand clashed with police during a protest against alleged exam irregularities, demanding a CBI probe and comprehensive reforms in the state's public service commissions.
Students and political parties in Odisha are protesting widespread errors in school textbooks, demanding the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond. The CJP has extended support to the Navnirman Yuva Chhatra Sangathan's 'satyagraha', while the state government has begun distributing corrected textbooks.
The Delhi high court on Tuesday said the right to protest does not extend to damaging the "seat of sovereignty," and a police officer's image cannot be "tarnished" over an alleged "overuse of power" during the July 20 march to Parliament against the NEET paper leak.
Hyderabad Cyber Crime police have taken action against Meta's India head and several social media account operators, registering cases for allegedly circulating morphed and objectionable content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi amidst the ongoing NEET paper leak agitation.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has launched a scathing attack on the Modi government, accusing it of responding to student demands for accountability and educational reforms with 'cowardice and wanton cruelty,' treating them as 'enemies of the nation.' She further alleged that the government has degraded India's education landscape and routinely chooses violence over dialogue.
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.
'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.'
The Jharkhand government is holding fresh discussions with student aspirants protesting alleged recruitment exam irregularities, even as the health of key protest leader Devendra Nath Mahto has significantly deteriorated after being on an indefinite hunger strike for about a week.
'Let the world know that India's Gen Z has now moved out of their social media world and is ready to face the lathis, the tear gas shells or the spiked-dandas of cops.'
The DMK has been charting an independent course from the Congress-led Opposition bloc on contentious issues during the Monsoon Session, including not joining a walkout over the anti-paper leak bill and participating in a debate on the National Honour Bill, signalling growing fault lines within the Opposition.
Opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, staged a symbolic protest in Parliament, enacting the "theft" of Ram Temple donations. The INDIA bloc demanded Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation and questioned his absence, also protesting police action against student agitators.
Seven more people, including two local journalists, were arrested on Thursday in connection with the leak of class 12 English paper of the Uttar Pradesh school board, the police said.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is undergoing significant reforms, including the removal of over 50 staff members and the onboarding of new leadership and domain specialists. This comes after recent issues like errors in UGC-NET papers, leading to re-tests, and the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026. The Education Ministry has directed a complete overhaul of exam protocols and a thorough audit of all processes to ensure integrity.
Swatantra Bharadwaj, accused of assaulting Nishu Azad's father during a CJP protest, claims he acted in self-defence against a mob, stating he has video evidence and that medical reports show no serious injuries, contradicting earlier claims of a skull fracture.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi staged a six-hour dharna at a police station in New Delhi, demanding an FIR for 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, who sustained pellet gun injuries during a July 20 protest. The FIR was registered after Gandhi's protest, with the BJP criticising his actions as 'politics of anarchy'.
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).
PGTI president Kapil Dev has called on authorities to facilitate fan access to the D P World India Championship amidst ongoing protests in Delhi. He also urged Gen Z to listen to others while acknowledging their intelligence, and advocated for shorter golf formats and improved infrastructure to boost the sport's popularity in India.
The Jharkhand government is holding fresh talks with students protesting alleged recruitment exam irregularities, including a hunger striker whose health has deteriorated. Despite multiple rounds of discussions, protesters vow to continue their agitation and plan a march to the Assembly if demands are not met.
Abhijeet Dipke, convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has called for Maharashtra School Education Minister Dada Bhuse's resignation, alleging that government schools are in a 'pitiable condition' and lack basic facilities, claiming 'ministers' dogs get better facilities' than students.
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.
Students in Ranchi, under the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, are intensifying their protests against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Despite a large protest involving over 50,000 students, the government has not responded positively, leading to a decision to continue the agitation. The students are demanding transparency, reforms in JPSC and JSSC, cancellation of exams, and an independent investigation, with some even on hunger strike.
