India recorded a nearly 80% increase in student suicides over a decade, rising from 8,068 cases in 2014 to 14,488 in 2024, according to the National Crime Records Bureau's Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India report. The figures emerged after nationwide protests over repeated exam cancellations and question-paper leaks, followed by the government's announcement at the end of July that the education minister would resign.

The report listed failure in examinations as the leading cause of suicide among students after family problems. The Guardian spoke with four families whose children died amid examination pressure, paper leaks, retests or admission-system changes. Families of Delhi student Anshika Pandey and Rajasthan student Pradeep Kumar Mahich said their children were devastated after the NEET paper leak and the announcement of a retest.

Sufi Shaheen of Delhi had been under mental pressure over a JEE syllabus change and fear of failing on a second attempt, her mother said. Anitha of Tamil Nadu lost hope after not reaching the NEET cutoff while studying a different syllabus, her brother said. Mahich's father called for a proper investigation, while Anitha's brother argued that examinations should be administered by state governments rather than the central government.

Bangladeshi student Joy Chandra Sarkar, 23, has died under mysterious circumstances while studying in Barasat, West Bengal, prompting his family in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, to allege planned murder. The Indian side informed the family that the death was a suicide. At about 8pm on August 6, an unidentified person used Joy’s Messenger account to tell his father, Ranjit Sarkar, that Joy had died by hanging. The family has demanded the arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible.

Relatives said Joy had shown no signs of mental distress, remained in regular contact with his family, and discussed his studies and future plans. Citing various Indian sources, the family said a woman was being held at Barasat police station for questioning, though Indian police had issued no formal statement. His father said the family did not believe that Joy could have taken his own life.

Joy enrolled at Sarada University in Delhi in 2024 on a student visa to study electrical and electronic engineering. He moved in 2025 to Brainware University in Barasat and was a second-year student. The family has sought assistance from Bangladesh’s foreign ministry and relevant Indian authorities for a full investigation and the return of his body. Parbatipur Model Police Station said legal action would follow if a written complaint is filed.

Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that unidentified attackers threw bricks and stones at her car in Halisahar, North 24 Parganas, while she was travelling to meet the family of a party worker who died in police custody. In remarks to journalists, she said she could have been killed and that her head might have been injured if her vehicle’s windows had not been closed.

According to the report, protesters surrounded Banerjee’s car, smeared it with mud and threw shoes and water bottles. They were also seen chanting “chor bhagao” as police tried to push them away. Banerjee accused outsiders of throwing stones in front of police and said officers did not protect her. MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Dola Sen also criticised the administration.

Banerjee had travelled to meet the family of Birju Keot, husband of former Trinamool councillor Jenny Sharma. Keot was sent to five days of police custody after an extortion-related arrest and was later alleged to have died in custody. Sharma alleged torture and beating, while police had not responded. The BJP condemned the incident, denied involvement and called for action against those responsible.

Four civil rights, lawyers’ and labour organisations have alleged that hundreds of migrant workers were detained in Bengaluru, India, during a purported operation to identify Bangladeshis. The groups said women and children were among those held and submitted a complaint to Karnataka’s home minister, director general of police and Bengaluru police commissioner. The report was published on August 9, 2026.

The complainants alleged illegal detention, beatings and inhuman treatment during the police operation. They said police went door to door in slums and working-class neighbourhoods early Saturday, seeking identity documents, but forcibly detained many people despite documents being shown. Those detained were allegedly taken in police jeeps or buses to police stations, convention centres, marriage halls and other locations.

The organisations alleged that more than 200 people were detained in Bandepalya, about 150 in Hebbagodi and over 400 in Parappana Agrahara, with further detentions reported elsewhere. They also alleged beatings at Varthur police station, damage to doors and CCTV cameras in Hebbagodi, and the seizure of more than 50 phones. They demanded immediate release, medical treatment for injured people, an independent investigation, action against officers, preservation of evidence and compensation.

India’s online-based Cockroach Janata Party, or CJP, has emerged as a major challenge for Narendra Modi’s government two weeks after youth-led protests forced the education minister to resign. The movement began in New Delhi over leaked government examination papers and alleged irregularities, then spread to cities across the country. It rapidly widened into a protest over unemployment, scarce job opportunities for young people and what protesters view as the government’s growing authoritarianism.

Under protest pressure, the education minister resigned on July 25, an unusual setback for the prime minister. The government has sought to win over young people, while parliament tightened penalties for examination paper leaks and police withdrew cases against protesters. Demonstrators used social media extensively, and Modi, a regular X user, became active on Instagram for the first time and posted a video there.

The protests also highlighted authorities’ use of AI-powered camera technology to monitor and identify demonstrators. Internet access was cut near the main protest site in New Delhi, disrupting communications. CJP says it will organize a nationwide listening program and continue supporting protests against exam irregularities. Demonstrations are continuing in Jharkhand.

Congress parliamentarian and leader Pawan Khera sharply criticised India’s Modi government after the US Senate passed a bill concerning sanctions on Russia. Speaking to the media in Prayagraj on August 8, 2026, Khera asked whether India was truly independent. The report said that if enacted, the measure would allow US President Donald Trump to impose 100 percent tariffs on the top five buyers of Russian oil, including India and China.

Khera said foreign countries were “blackmailing” India and imposing their own terms over which countries India could buy oil from and in what quantity. The Senate bill concerns tariffs or sanctions of up to 100 percent on leading countries involved in purchasing Russian oil and gas, according to the report.

Referring to the government’s claim of being a “Vishwaguru,” Khera said it should answer questions on the issue. He alleged that the government lacked the courage to face such questions in parliament and feared accountability to the public. Congress has placed the central government under criticism over India’s independent foreign policy and its position amid international political and economic pressure.

Mohammad Junaid Malik, known for supplying food to student protesters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for 35 days, has begun supporting job-seeking students protesting in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The 30-year-old LLB student from Ghaziabad is arranging food and other necessities for demonstrators who have been protesting for two weeks over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Malik said breakfast and regular meals were being organized for the protesters.

Malik said the effort was collective rather than his alone, with his full volunteer team arriving in Ranchi from Delhi and more people expected to join. He also said vegetarian biryani was planned for distribution in the evening. Citing persistent rain, he warned that waterlogging at the protest site could increase mosquito breeding and the risk of disease. He urged Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to consider the students’ demands seriously and resolve the matter quickly.

The protest reached its 14th day on Friday, with six demonstrators on an indefinite hunger strike and one hospitalized after his condition worsened. Five more people, including two women, joined the fast on Tuesday night alongside JLK M leader Devendra Nath Mahato, who had been fasting for six days. Protesters formed an 11-member delegation, but said they had received no formal invitation despite the chief minister saying talks remained open.

India has clarified its position on a news conference or virtual event involving ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, saying it had no role in the programme and does not endorse any remarks made there. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the statement at the ministry’s weekly media briefing on Friday. The event in question was held on August 5.

Jaiswal said the August 5 news conference or virtual programme was organised by a private media outlet or organisation. He said it was not an initiative of the Indian government, underscoring that New Delhi had no involvement in arranging or conducting the event.

The spokesperson specifically said India has no association with, and offers no support for, statements made at the event about Bangladesh’s current government. The report did not provide further details about the programme, Hasina’s remarks, or any subsequent actions by either government.

The Chhattisgarh High Court has denied bail to retired IAS officer Jivankishore Dhruv in an alleged examination paper leak case involving the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission. The court said leaking, or attempting to leak, questions for competitive examinations is an offence more serious than murder because it jeopardises the futures and careers of millions of job seekers. Dhruv was serving as CGPSC secretary during the period covered by the allegations.

Irregularities have been alleged in CGPSC examinations held between 2020 and 2022, and the CBI is investigating the matter. The agency arrested Dhruv in September 2025 on allegations of involvement in the leak. Investigators allege that he gave examination questions to his son, who subsequently succeeded in the PSC process and was appointed an additional district magistrate.

Dhruv denied the allegations, arguing that he was being targeted because he was the PSC secretary at the time. Justice Bibhu Datta Guru reserved the order after a hearing on July 31 and announced the decision on Wednesday. The court said the allegations against the retired officer could not be treated as ordinary, citing the wider social impact of ruined careers.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said central government spending on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign trips totalled Rs 557 crore 51 lakh 34 thousand 18 rupees and 56 paise from 2021 through July this year. Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita provided the figures in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, responding to questions from AAP MP Sanjay Singh and CPI MP V Sivadasan.

The ministry said Modi’s bilateral overseas visits between January and July this year cost Rs 74 crore 58 lakh 93 thousand 797 rupees. During that period, he visited 13 countries: Malaysia, Israel, the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Italy, France, Slovakia, Seychelles, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. The most expensive trip this year was his Norway visit in the second half of May, costing Rs 17 crore 46 lakh 50 thousand 390 rupees.

His February visit to Israel cost Rs 11 crore 92 lakh 25 thousand 938 rupees, according to the ministry. It said a France trip in February last year cost Rs 25 crore 59 lakh 82 thousand 902 rupees. The ministry said the figures reflected actual expenditure and did not account for inflation or changes in currency exchange rates.

India’s Parliament has passed a new bill granting Vande Mataram legal status equal to the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, prompting nationwide debate. Published on August 7, 2026, the report says the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 extends legal protection to all six stanzas of Vande Mataram. Intentional insult or disruption of the song could carry imprisonment of up to three years under penalties set out in the 1971 law.

Opposition parties and Muslim organisations say the measure seeks to impose an ideology and interferes with religious freedom. The report cites a 1937 Congress Working Committee decision supporting use of only the first two stanzas, while excluding later verses that invoke Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. It also notes that although President Rajendra Prasad spoke in 1950 of equal status for Vande Mataram, the Constituent Assembly did not adopt all six stanzas.

The report refers to the Supreme Court’s 1986 Bijoe Emmanuel ruling, which held that standing silently during the national anthem was sufficient respect and that refusing to sing was not necessarily disrespect. Courts have treated deliberate and intentional disruption as central under the 1971 law, while silent non-participation has not been considered an offence. Analysts cited in the report argue the new provision could alter that setting.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party are placing greater emphasis on Instagram Reels and short videos to reach young voters after Gen Z protests over limited job and education opportunities. The Reuters report, published on August 7, says Modi’s messaging has shifted from tightly prepared political content toward lighter, more natural and less edited videos. Recent clips show him in a biker jacket and sunglasses with rap music, while a vertical video released on July 31 featured him looking into the camera and saying, “Hi, friends.”

The protests, triggered by an exam paper leak, grew as thousands of students and job seekers took to the streets, and India’s education minister resigned. Protesters used Reels and short videos to challenge Modi’s image and question the government’s control over public political messaging. Political columnist Asim Ali and University of Michigan professor Joyojeet Pal said Instagram rewards spontaneity, humour and authenticity, while overly staged political messaging can appear artificial to younger audiences.

After a cabinet meeting following the protests, Modi instructed ministers to become more active on youth-focused platforms and keep videos less polished. Ministries and government departments have released lighter edited clips, and the foreign ministry plans to become active on Snapchat. With the 2029 general election ahead, the BJP is seeking to reach more than 400 million Gen Z voters, though observers question whether the generation will embrace or mock the campaign.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday amid continuing tensions between the United States and Iran, according to the report. The leaders discussed recent developments in the Middle East, also described as West Asia, and reviewed progress across areas of the India-Israel special strategic partnership. Modi disclosed the conversation in a post on X after the call.

India's Prime Minister's Office said the two leaders expressed satisfaction with continued progress in bilateral relations. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest and to deepen ties between the two countries. The call cited notable progress in cooperation on emerging technologies, cybersecurity, agriculture, water management, health, entrepreneurship development, defence and security.

Modi and Netanyahu agreed to take the special strategic partnership to new heights with peace, innovation and prosperity as priorities, the report said. They also agreed to remain in regular contact. Modi visited Israel for two days with a high-level delegation in February at Netanyahu's invitation. A joint statement issued on February 26 said both prime ministers had reaffirmed their commitment to shared goals of peace, security and prosperity through technological innovation and entrepreneurship development.

Ajit Doval has largely stepped back from regularly briefing Sheikh Hasina during her stay in India, according to a report published by Amar Desh Online on August 6, 2026 and updated early the following day. The report says India has a practice of holding regular “debriefing sessions” for foreign guests who arrive under special circumstances, citing the Dalai Lama’s arrival in 1959 as an example.

Such sessions are intended to inform guests about the overall situation, explain India’s perspective on different issues, and clarify what is expected of them, the report says. Doval initially performed this role himself for several months after Hasina arrived in India. It says his announced and unannounced visits to Dhaka had helped establish a positive personal equation with Hasina, making the process smoother.

The report says responsibility has shifted to Intelligence Bureau chief Tapan Deka, or to current chief Mahesh Dixit after Deka’s retirement last month. It attributes Doval’s reduced involvement to his workload or other reasons. Some observers cited in the report view the change as evidence that Hasina no longer holds the same level of importance in Delhi’s eyes.

West Bengal Police ordered 1,276 mosques and 199 temples to remove loudspeakers during a two-day statewide drive over allegations of sound levels exceeding prescribed limits. The report, published by Amar Desh Online on August 6, 2026, said nearly 1,500 religious institutions were affected. The information was attributed to a report by The Times of India.

Senior police officials said the action was taken equally against religious institutions of all faiths and without discrimination. In what was described as the state’s first such operation, police encouraged management committees at places of worship to remove microphones and comply with noise-pollution rules.

Under West Bengal’s Noise Pollution Control Rules, 2000, prior police permission is mandatory to use loudspeakers between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Sound limiters must also be used, with noise levels kept strictly between 50 and 75 decibels. Representatives of several mosque and temple committees told the media that local police issued only verbal directions to remove loudspeakers, with no written instruction provided.