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.

On July 20 thousands of students staged protests outside the Indian parliament in New Delhi demanding the education minister's resignation over repeated exam paper leaks, and police used force to disperse them. Eighteen-year-old Avantika Singh filmed tear gas and baton charges and posted edited footage on Instagram; dozens of students were reportedly injured and many captured scenes of alleged police brutality on mobile phones.

The footage has spread across social media, turning platforms once used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party into tools for opposition by Gen Z. Videos show alleged beatings, use of pellet guns, pleas to police from family members, and officers knocking students down; protests then spread to major cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Patna, Lucknow and Aizawl. A student pressure group called 'Kakaroch Janata Party' is leading peaceful demands that include the education minister's resignation, no legal action against protesters and compensation for families of students who committed suicide due to paper leaks.

Under pressure, Modi announced on social media that fast‑track courts would be formed to punish those responsible for paper leaks, while students continue to amplify their resistance through memes and viral video edits online.

Sonam Wangchuk, an environmental activist and educator, ended a 27-day hunger strike late Friday at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Central ministers Jagat Prakash Nadda and Jitendra Singh were present when Wangchuk broke his fast on his hospital bed, and his wife Geetanjali Jain Angmo was also at his side.

Modi had issued a video statement at 11:53pm promising tougher legal action over exam paper leaks, calling the issue a matter of deep distress for millions of students and parents. He said the government has taken steps including arrests over the past two and a half months and has held re-examinations involving about 2.2 million candidates; he proposed fast-track courts and will seek to pass related legislation in the ongoing parliamentary session.

After Wangchuk ended his hunger strike, those present draped him in a shawl and offered congratulations, and Modi later sent him well-wishes on social media urging a speedy recovery following medical advice.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged tougher action to curb exam paper leaks amid nationwide controversy and protests. In a late-night post and video on X on Thursday, he said the central government will take stricter decisions at Friday’s cabinet meeting and outlined steps already taken over the past two-and-a-half months to address exam-related fraud and criminal networks.

Modi said many suspects involved in the crime have been arrested and sent to jail, and the government has prioritized protecting students’ futures. He said about 2.2 million students should be able to receive re-evaluation or re-examination promptly, noting that final results were published on the 19th and successful candidates have been reported nationwide. He added that fast-track courts have been set up to ensure speedy trials.

He said the cabinet will discuss the matter in detail on Friday and final decisions will follow colleagues’ views, and the government will push to rapidly pass a tough legal bill on paper leaks in parliament’s second week starting Monday.

A young woman named Riya Ahir single-handedly stopped a moving police van near Shivaji Park in Dadar, Mumbai, during heavy rain on Wednesday, a moment captured in viral photos and videos. The incident occurred amid ongoing student protests and quickly became a powerful symbol of the movement after the crowd applauded and chanted in support of her action.

Indian broadcaster NDTV reported that Riya’s intervention compelled police to release detained protesters, and the crowd’s reaction highlighted the scene’s impact. According to her Instagram profile, Riya Ahir is an actor, model and entrepreneur who runs a handcrafted fashion brand called “Riyasat” and has nearly 100,000 followers on social media.

The report linked the incident to wider student unrest and noted related political developments and restrictions elsewhere, while providing no further operational details about the protest’s next steps.

Protests demanding education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over exam paper leaks in New Delhi have intensified, with students staging peaceful marches and sit-ins in recent days. Demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and other sites have been met by police action, and multiple public interest litigations have been filed in the Delhi High Court alleging use of tear gas, baton charges and widespread physical abuse of protestors.

Petitioners say the police response was not isolated but a deliberate suppression by forces under the Home Ministry, and social media circulated videos purportedly show tear gas and officers in plain clothes assaulting demonstrators. Authorities have filed ten FIRs against unidentified individuals connected to the protests; journalists report Prime Minister Narendra Modi later ordered a fast-track court for those implicated in the paper leak scandal.

The protests continue with students pressing for accountability over the exam leak and broader reforms to an education system they say excludes many; courts will now consider the allegations of police misconduct in pending petitions.

Protesters in India demanding the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan have adopted an internet trend centering on Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland during demonstrations in July 2026. Gen-Z activists and social media users have turned the 25-year-old striker into a humorous focal point, dubbing him the "people's prince" and linking his online presence to pressure on political leaders amid the ongoing net question leak controversy.

The trend grew after a parody Instagram post using Narendra Modi's name invited Haaland to reply, joking that Modi would accept Pradhan's resignation if Haaland responded; the post drew thousands of comments. Comedians and users contributed memes and jokes, and protesters in Mumbai even mimicked Haaland's "Viking roar" celebration during street demonstrations, showing how internet culture is being used alongside slogans and speeches.

Observers note that frustrated young people are using memes and viral content to express anger and mobilize; the source attributes the reporting to The Telegraph India and links the phenomenon to the broader Gen-Z movement in India.

Students and young people from across India have travelled to Delhi to take part in the 'Kakroach Janata Party' mass protest against alleged exam paper leaks and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Many arrived by overnight trains or buses and some left home without informing their families; several teenagers from Mumbai and Prayagraj were observed at the protest site near Jantar Mantar on Monday.

Witnesses at Jantar Mantar described participants distributing cold drinks and aiding fellow protesters; a 15-year-old from Prayagraj said he ran away from home and did not bring a bag to avoid detection. A young woman at the protest concealed her identity with a mask, fearing opposition from family and villagers who support the ruling party. Protesters invoked figures such as Bhagat Singh and B.R. Ambedkar and displayed banners referencing Bhagat Singh's 1929 hunger strike, while chanting "Inquilab Zindabad."

Organisers and participants continued the demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Monday, with reports of police detaining a hunger-striking protester and social media posts about a missing student later saying she was found.

Abhijit Deep, head of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), criticized the Indian government, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi took 34 days to acknowledge the exam paper leak scandal. He called Modi’s silence shameful and accused the government of protecting Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan despite widespread protests and calls for his resignation. Modi had earlier announced the formation of a fast-track court to punish those involved, but the CJP rejected the proposal.

On social media, Modi stated that nothing is more important than protecting the future of young people and that those responsible would not be spared. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das dismissed the government’s move as a temporary fix, citing a history of impunity in past leak cases. Protesters vowed to continue demonstrations until the education minister resigns and systemic reforms are made.

Opposition parties expressed solidarity with the protesters, disrupting parliamentary sessions. Police used tear gas and batons against nearly 50,000 demonstrators in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, while protests spread to Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and other cities.

Abhijit Deepak, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party, fell ill while protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. He announced on social media that despite high fever and body pain, he had continued the protest with painkillers but would take a short break. Deepak stated he plans to return to the protest stage by Thursday evening.

The protesters, including Deepak, are demanding the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Deepak accused police of brutality after officers allegedly used batons and tear gas on demonstrators Wednesday night, while police claimed protesters had thrown stones and bottles as they moved toward Parliament Street.

Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a fast-track court to ensure strict punishment for those involved in the exam paper leak case. He said the government is committed to protecting the future of the country’s youth, a move that received full support from top NDA and BJP leaders.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), whose demonstrations have recently stirred unrest in New Delhi and other Indian cities, is now planning to hold a protest march in Kolkata. According to a report by Anandabazar, the group has emailed Kolkata Police seeking permission to organize the event this Friday.

The email, sent on July 19 and July 21 by a person named Dedipya Gangopadhyay who identified himself as a CJP member, requested approval to march from College Square to Rani Rashmoni Road at 4 p.m. on Friday. The message also mentioned an expected gathering of about 1,500 participants. Kolkata Police confirmed receiving the email but stated that permission for the march has not yet been granted.

The planned demonstration marks the CJP’s first attempt to extend its movement to West Bengal following widespread protests in the national capital and other regions.

Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt has expressed her support for the ongoing student protests in Delhi against exam paper leaks and irregularities. In an emotional message shared on social media on July 23, 2026, she praised the students’ courage and determination in demanding a fair and transparent education system. Bhatt said the recent days had been both painful and inspiring, acknowledging the sacrifices and dreams behind each protesting student.

She emphasized that the movement for accountability reminds society to listen to the voices of the younger generation. Bhatt described the students’ resilience as a mirror reflecting a question to all—whether the nation truly hears those shaping its future. Her message concluded with the sentiment that the future belongs to the students themselves.

Earlier, actor Salman Khan had also expressed solidarity with the protesters but voiced sorrow that the initially peaceful demonstrations had turned violent. He called the exam paper leak a serious issue and extended sympathy to affected students and their families.

The Kakroach Janata Party (CJEP) has called a nationwide protest on Friday to stand with people who suffered police violence across India. The party issued the call via a message on X on Thursday, urging the general public and students to participate in the countrywide programme.

The X message asked organisers to ensure that students read out the core demands clearly from the front of each assembly. It also advised various student organisations and other relevant groups to work together in unity and coordinate to simplify permissions and ancillary arrangements for the programme. The protest call comes amid a tense political atmosphere centered on an exam paper leak issue, and opposition leaders have already met at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's residence to decide on future actions.

A Mumbai police officer has been accused of threatening protesters with false drug charges, according to a video shared by the Mumbai Congress. The video allegedly shows the officer warning a group of students that if they join protests again, they will be framed in narcotics cases. The incident reportedly occurred in several protest sites across the city, including Shivaji Park, Chembur, and Azad Maidan.

Mumbai Police has taken the matter seriously and initiated an investigation to verify the authenticity and context of the video. Pending the outcome of the inquiry, the officer seen in the footage has been removed from his current duties. The police stated that further action will depend on the investigation’s findings.

The Congress post accompanying the video described the alleged threat as an attack on democratic rights and urged that students’ questions be met with accountability rather than intimidation. The report also noted growing concerns about police tactics, including digital surveillance and home visits to warn protesters.

A tunnel under construction for a hydropower project in Namchi district of Sikkim, India, collapsed on Monday, leaving 22 workers dead. The incident occurred after an explosion inside the tunnel, reportedly caused by the ignition of flammable gas trapped within rock layers. At the time of the collapse, 25 workers were inside and became trapped deep within the tunnel.

Officials said that rescue operations have been extremely dangerous due to the presence of toxic gas, fallen rocks, and unstable conditions inside the tunnel. Despite these challenges, efforts to locate the remaining missing workers are ongoing. Authorities are also working to support the affected families and ensure all necessary assistance for the rescue mission.

The administration has pledged to continue search and recovery operations while providing aid to those impacted by the disaster.