Page 2 - Neet

Neet protests: Bihar, Assam to withdraw all FIRs, release protesters

The move came after the CJP threatened to resume nationwide protests if the Centre failed to provide written assurances on withdrawing FIRs and ending action against demonstrators

The cultural meaning of Neet: Saving faith in India's exam system

For millions, competitive exams represent a status-blind opportunity to move into a higher life orbit. Repairing broken trust needs more than heightened Instagram presence

CJP flags detention of protesters in states, asks govt to honour assurance

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday expressed concern over reports that students and other protesters were being detained or arrested in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar despite Centre's assurance that no punitive action would be taken against those who participated in the recent nationwide agitation. The statement, shared on X by CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, comes days after the outfit called off its 36-day protest after the Centre accepted its principal demand for the resignation of former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, with Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh assuring that no action would be taken against peaceful protesters. The agitation, which began June 20 over alleged examination irregularities, had culminated in a 26-day hunger strike by Sonam Wangchuk before it was withdrawn after the government's assurances. In the statement issued Monday, the CJP said it had received "multiple reports" of students and other protesters being "targeted, detained, or ...

Mere agitation can't justify police excess, says SC on student protests

The Supreme Court said peaceful protest is a constitutional right and observed that mere agitation cannot justify a lathi-charge, while hearing pleas seeking uniform guidelines for protests

Rahul Gandhi writes to Shah, demands accountability for assault on students

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding accountability for the "barbaric assault" on peacefully protesting students here and asking whether he approved the use of "lethal force", including pellet guns, against the youth. In his letter to Shah, Gandhi said peaceful protest is crucial to any democracy and it is the government's responsibility to protect protestors and resolve their grievances through dialogue. "Such brutal violence destroys every norm, and has outraged the country. Youth and students, the future of our country, are demanding answers and accountability. Their voice will be heard," the former Congress chief said. "I write to demand accountability for the barbaric assault on students who were peacefully protesting in Delhi on July 20, 2026. Our students were demanding a fair and accountable education system. Instead of being heard, security forces assaulted them with indiscriminate force, including lethal weapo

Students more important than any post: Shah after Dharmendra Pradhan's exit

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the country, youth and students are far more important than any position for BJP workers and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan exemplifies this principle. His remarks came after Pradhan resigned on Saturday amid mounting pressure due to the protests over the NEET paper leak controversy. "The Modi government respects the sentiments of the country's youth and is committed to implementing the necessary reforms against paper leaks," he said in a post on X late Saturday night. "For the BJP, the nation, our youth and students hold far greater importance than any position," he said. The decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure strict punishment for those guilty of paper leaks are commendable, Shah said. "I am fully confident that these steps will ensure complete justice for the students who succeeded in the NEET examination," the Home Minister said. Shah said Pradhan has brought about significant .

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns amid nationwide protests

The minister's resignation comes weeks after protests over the leaking of the question paper for the highly-competitive National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Neet-UG) for admissions to medical colle

Education Minister Pradhan resigns; CJP calls it a 'win for democracy'

Citing 'deep anguish' over the ongoing protests, Dharmendra Pradhan said he has submitted his resignation to PM Modi amid sustained student agitations and mounting political pressure

Anti-Neet protest enters 6th day in Tamil Nadu; doctors to join on July 28

Protests against the NEET in Tamil Nadu intensified on Saturday, with the continuous sit-in at the CPI State Headquarters (Balan Illam) in T Nagar entering its sixth day. The students have demanded the scrapping of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and action against the alleged police excesses against protesting youth in Delhi. The Students' Federation of India organised campus demonstrations at Loyola College, Presidency College and other educational institutions. Medical professionals and students across Tamil Nadu are also set to launch a coordinated statewide protest on July 28. The protest has been called by the Doctors' Association for Social Equality and the Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association in solidarity with the ongoing anti-NEET demonstrations in New Delhi. As part of the agitation, demonstrations will be held outside all government medical colleges across Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, activist So

Delhi Police tighten security with extra barricades for weekend protests

Security arrangements have been intensified further across the national capital ahead of the weekend, with Delhi Police installing additional layers of barricades at key locations and reinforcing them with heavy-duty chains to prevent attempts to breach security cordons, officials said on Saturday. The move follows the raging protest in Delhi by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanding reforms in the examination system and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak, with police expecting a larger turnout of protesters through the weekend. According to police sources, multiple rows of iron barricades have been placed on the sensitive stretches in the New Delhi district, particularly in and around the Jantar Mantar protest site and other strategic locations. "Extra layers of barricading have been put in place at the vulnerable points, which have been chained together and welded so that they cannot be dismantled or shifted easily. Additional for

Ended fast fearing crackdown like Ladakh: Wangchuk denies deal with Centre

Activist Sonam Wangchuk said he decided to end his 26-day hunger strike after receiving the Centre's written assurances because he feared an imminent crackdown on protesters and wanted to prevent violence, recalling the September 24, 2025 firing on youth in Ladakh. In a YouTube video posted late Friday night, Wangchuk dismissed allegations that he had reached a deal with the government. He emphasised that his primary goal was to ensure that students involved in the protests would not face violence or legal consequences. He explained that he did not demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during negotiations because his priority was to prevent any legal actions against protesters. Wangchuk expressed confidence that Pradhan would resign eventually. "Last night around midnight, I was told the ministers had agreed to give the assurance in writing. I was in a hurry because the situation in Delhi was such; there was apprehension that a major crackdown could happen.

PM Modi thanks people for responses, suggestions received on midnight video

You have given me overwhelming support and positive suggestions, he added

SC to hear pleas over alleged police excesses during NEET protests

The Supreme Court will hear petitions on July 27 over alleged police excesses during NEET protests, while the Delhi High Court deferred a surveillance challenge and declined an NIA probe plea

Cabinet clears ₹3,030 cr chemical scheme; Vaishnaw skips Neet questions

When asked about the reported draft Bill proposing stricter punishments for paper leaks, Vaishnaw declined to answer questions on the Neet issue, saying, "No paper will be leaked today"

NEET protests to JP Movement: How student movements have changed India's history

A paper leak sparked the latest student protests in India—but history suggests this may be about much more than NEET. From the Nav Nirman Movement and JP Movement to the Mandal protests, India Against

Has the Indian State kept pace with a changing India?

In this episode of Macro Matters, veteran journalist A. K. Bhattacharya joins us to examine whether India is responding to today's challenges with new ideas—or old instincts.

CJP seeks Pradhan's resignation; Cabinet clears Bill for tougher punishment

The proposed law, likely to be introduced next week, comes as the Centre and CJP continue talks, with the student body reiterating its demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

List of govt assurances that led Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike

Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike after the Centre assured action on key demands, including a parliamentary discussion on paper leaks and no cases against peaceful protesters

Amit Shah meets LS Speaker Om Birla amid Parliament deadlock over Neet

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against the backdrop of continuous opposition protests in Parliament over the NEET paper leak. The government has accused the opposition of attaching the pre-condition of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation before agreeing to a debate. Sources said Shah met Birla after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day amid continuous ruckus. Earlier, top opposition leaders including the Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav met Birla. TMC leaders Saugata Roy and Mahua Moitra were also present in the meeting. During the Question Hour, Birla had asked opposition leaders to meet him to decide on the duration and date of the discussion on the NEET paper leak issue. The Monsoon session, which began on Monday, has so far been a washout due to opposition protests over paper leak and alleged theft of Ram temple donations. Police crackdown on Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests he

No evidence links Sanjeev Mukhiya to Neet-UG 2024 paper leak case: CBI

The CBI on Thursday said that it did not come across any evidence to establish the involvement of Sanjeev Kumar alias Sanjeev Mukhiya in the theft or distribution of the stolen NEET-UG 2024 question paper. In 2024, Bihar Police detected the theft of the NEET-UG question paper and registered a case, the agency said in a statement. "At that stage, prima facie suspicion had emerged against Sanjeev Kumar alias Sanjeev Mukhiya, who may have been involved in the theft, as he was found involved in certain other paper theft/leak cases. Bihar Police accordingly named him as an accused in the FIR," a CBI spokesperson said. The case was subsequently transferred to the CBI, and during the course of its investigation, the agency identified "each and every person" involved in the theft and onward distribution of the stolen question paper, along with each beneficiary. The CBI filed multiple chargesheets against 45 persons before a Patna court. "In the course of its investigation, the CBI did not