India's central government moved Education Secretary Vinit Joshi out of the education ministry and transferred him to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj amid intense student protests over leakage of medical entrance exam question papers. The administrative change occurred last Thursday, and Naresh Pal Gangwar was appointed as the new education secretary after serving as secretary in the fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy production ministry.

The transfer did not appease protesting students, who remain firm in demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and an impartial investigation into the unified medical entrance test (NEET) paper leak. The Facebook-based group 'Cocoroch Janata Party' (CZP) has been protesting since June 6, and notable activist Sonam Wangchuk, who began a hunger strike on June 28 in solidarity, broke his fast after the transfer and is currently hospitalized at Medanta. Reports in the source say at least 12 examinees have died by suicide across states in reaction to the paper leak incident.