The Bill proposes stricter punishment for paper leak offences, higher fines for organised crimes and service providers, and time-bound investigations and trials
The Centre has promised to withdraw Neet protest cases, but the process is not automatic. Here's why an FIR cannot simply be cancelled and why some cases may take longer to close
BJP cites past leaks as Opposition targets Centre over protests and exam failures
The Bill enhances punishments across offences under the law
Top court says the issue of shifting NEET-UG to a computer-based format requires wider consideration and will hear it with pending petitions next week
The first hearing in the designated court to deal with the NEET paper leak case was adjourned on Monday after no one appeared on behalf of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Bail pleas of two accused, Dinesh Biwal and Vikas Biwal, were listed for hearing before Special Judge Anu Grover Baliga. "None appears on behalf of the state till 10.45 am to argue on the bail application," the judge said. She noted the submissions of the counsel of the accused that the matter be adjourned to August 3 as he had to argue a matter in the Rohini district courts and that he was unable to wait any longer. Adjourning the matter to August 3, the judge directed the "director of prosecution to depute a public prosecutor in the present court". The special judge took charge of the designated court to deal with criminal cases arising from paper leaks and the use of other unfair means in public examinations on Saturday. Earlier on July 23, the Delhi High Court had issued a notification, saying tha
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress and its allies of disrupting the debate on the proposed legislation
The Centre formed the Radhakrishnan panel in 2024 to improve exam security. Here's what led to its creation, what it proposed and what has changed since
The Centre has rarely rolled back major policy decisions. But since 2014, sustained protests, political opposition and pressure have led to changes, withdrawals or delays on several key measures
The government on Monday introduced in the Lok Sabha a bill to provide for stricter measures to check paper leaks, amid protests by opposition parties in the House against the police action during the student agitation over the NEET issue. Soon after the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill was introduced by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till 2 pm due to continuing protests by the Opposition. They were demanding a response from the government over the police crackdown on students during the CJP-led July 20 protest march to Parliament. Seeking to amend a two-year-old anti-paper leak law, the bill has been introduced following the over-month-long protest by students over NEET-UG paper leak and other issues. The bill proposes to set up fast-track courts in every state for speedy trials of accused and enhances punishment. According to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, ..
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday lashed out at the Modi government over allegations that AK-47 rifles were used to target protesting students in Bihar and demanded that action be taken against those who attacked the students. Gandhi also demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to the students. The central government is "dishonest" and reform is beyond its capability, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha charged. "The entire system is downright murderous against students. Reports are coming in that AK-47s have been fired at protesting students in Bihar, and hundreds have been arrested and booked under FIRs," Gandhi said in a post on X in Hindi. "Modi ji, what happened to your promise that no FIRs would be filed against students and that they would be released? Instead, they are being subjected to deadly attacks and brutality," he said. "Pellet guns were used against students in Delhi, and AK-47s in Bihar. Whether it is Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, or De
The Bill comes amid intensified focus on the conduct of national competitive exams and is expected to provide more stringent measures to ensure transparency and accountability in examination system
Leaks of questions for examinations have been part of India's landscape for long, and the NTA was set up in 2017 to address these issues
The government will be tested on Monday, with an emboldened Oppn confronting it, writes Archis Mohan
A multidisciplinary group of domain experts will be part of the task force
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 .
A bill to amend The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which proposes to increase jail term up to 10 years and fine up to Rs 10 crore for offences related to paper leaks, is likely to be introduced in Parliament on Monday. According to the Bill circulated to members ahead of its introduction, individuals involved in paper leaks or unfair means in exams will get jail terms for a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 10 years, and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh. For organised crimes, the bill proposes a minimum sentence of seven years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore. All investigations will have to be completed within two months, it says. All states and UTs will be directed to set up fast-track courts, which will conduct hearings swiftly and complete the trial within three months of filing of the chargesheet.
All 18 Delhi Metro stations in central Delhi, which had remained shut due to security reasons, reopened on Saturday after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) withdrew its protest, ending four days of restrictions. In a post on X, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that all metro stations were now open and normal entry and exit had resumed. The stations reopened after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, after which the CJP announced the withdrawal of its protest and demonstrators began dispersing from the Jantar Mantar area. The stations that had remained closed over the past four days were Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhambha Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium, Jhandewalan and New Delhi. The stations had been shut due to security arrangements in central Delhi amid the CJP protest, which drew large ...
Patriotic songs, drumbeats and chants of "Vande Mataram" echoed through Jantar Mantar on Saturday as thousands of protesters erupted in celebration after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned over the NEET paper leak, calling it the first major victory of their weeks-long agitation. The celebration continued even as, just after the meeting with Union ministers, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokespersons said the agitation was being withdrawn with the government accepting all demands put forth by the outfit. The protest site, which witnessed clashes, tear gas and injuries just days earlier, transformed into a scene of jubilation as protesters hugged one another, waved the tricolour, danced in circles to the song 'Chak De! India' and beat daflis while chanting slogans celebrating democracy and student unity. Many held aloft portraits of Dr B R Ambedkar, while others recorded videos recreating a popular social media meme by pointing first to Pradhan's resignation lett
The announcement came after another round of talks between CJP representatives and Union ministers Jitendra Singh and J P Nadda at Vithalbhai Patel House