On Monday, the Central Government informed the Supreme Court of its desire to officially document the entire process and all protective measures taken from the moment the NEET examination materials were printed until they were distributed among students.
The Supreme Court ruled that peaceful protest is a constitutional right, and the mere presence of a demonstration cannot be grounds for alleged abuse of power by the police against demonstrators.
The judicial bench, chaired by Chief Justice Surya Kant, issued these remarks while hearing petitions accusing the police of using excessive force against students during protests in July related to the alleged NEET exam leak.
Ashutosh Ranka, a representative of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), warned that the organization might resume its protests if the First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against students and other protesters are not withdrawn, and detainees are not immediately released.
In a post on X, Ranka tagged Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, stating that the Centre had broken its promise not to take punitive action against protesters. He reported that hundreds of students were arrested in Bihar and West Bengal, while others faced detention or harassment in Delhi and other parts of the country.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju approached the Congress party in the Rajya Sabha, requesting their participation in the discussion of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. The government 'humbly requested' them to speak, but they refused to allow the sessions.
Rijiju stated: 'I had high hopes this morning that Hardeep ji would at least advise his Congress members. After all, for a long time they insisted on the need to discuss the NEET exam leak and the future of our students. We presented such an important bill.'
Parliament was adjourned amidst massive noise from the opposition.
Despite Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation ending his term as Union Education Minister, it did little to affect his standing within the NDA. During his first appearance in Parliament two days after stepping down due to the NEET exam leak scandal, the BJP member was met by fellow party members with shouts of 'Dharmendra Pradhan zindabad' and loud displays of support.
This reception drew immediate criticism from the opposition, as the Congress accused the BJP of celebrating a leader who resigned following a major examination scandal.
According to a New York Times report, the Pentagon has changed how it reports casualties in the war with Iran, introducing a new category for deaths and injuries registered since July 7, which complicates the calculation of total human losses in the conflict.
Under the revised reporting system, the Department of Defense's military casualty analysis system reinstated the count of four American soldiers killed last week after they were temporarily removed from the website. However, these casualties are now listed in a separate section titled 'casualties overseas operations starting July 7, 2026', requiring anyone seeking the overall casualty figure to combine data from two different webpages.
The Supreme Court has suspended the hearing on the NEET-UG examination material leak case, stating that such a situation cannot continue. The Court ordered close monitoring of the measures taken by the central government to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Court also stated that it will monitor the progress of reforms throughout the year to ensure the integrity of the country's largest medical entrance examination. It demanded that the central government submit a detailed written affidavit describing all steps being taken to prevent leaks and strengthen the examination system. After receiving this document, the Court will assess the government's plans and readiness.
During the hearings, the government assured the Supreme Court of its full commitment to addressing student concerns and ensuring fair examinations. Government representatives guaranteed that necessary steps are being taken to enhance exam security and prevent future leaks. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that the government is working at all levels to resolve student issues.
The Court emphasized that temporary measures are insufficient and insisted on establishing a robust and permanent security system for national exams. Under this requirement, the Court asked the central government to specify in its report what measures are being taken for the preparation and secure delivery of examination materials, what steps are being taken against leaks, who will be held responsible in case of violations, and how the examination system will be improved in the long term. The Court confirmed that it will continuously track the implementation of these improvements.
Following the NEET-UG material leak scandal, students and parents raised questions about the impartiality of the exam. Now, the Court insists that the central government create a system that eliminates future leaks and maintains student trust in the testing system.
Amid a political crisis caused by the NEET exam leak scandal and growing opposition protests, the Center announced on Wednesday its readiness to discuss the issue in Parliament. Meanwhile, opposition parties continue to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The parliamentary affairs representative, Kiran Rijiju, clearly outlined the Center's position in the Lok Sabha, stating that the government is prepared to consider the problem. Rijiju reported that the Center has approached the Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, requesting a cross-party meeting to determine the rules, date, and duration of the discussion.
The minister emphasized that the government strives for constructive dialogue for the future of the country's youth. However, this statement failed to appease the opposition, which renewed its criticism of the Center and questioned why Dharmendra Pradhan continues to hold his post.
The senior leader of the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, accused the government of trying to protect the education minister. He questioned the reasons why the minister could not be removed, suggesting that he might be holding government secrets, causing the government to 'act fearfully.' Speaking later in the Lok Sabha, Akhilesh noted that the issue goes beyond partisan politics and concerns the future of millions of students.
He also pointed to the government's improper conduct, mentioning that students were subjected to beatings, which forced activists to protest near the Prime Minister's residence. Akhilesh asked why the Prime Minister cannot make a statement in the House if he makes statements outside of it.
The Trinamool Congress MP, Kalyan Banerjee, intensified the opposition's pressure, insisting that elected representatives would continue protests until accountability was ensured. Banerjee stated that they would fight everywhere, and Dharmendra Pradhan would have to resign, while simultaneously attacking the government as a whole.
Recent events in Parliament took place the day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav, and other opposition leaders, headed to the Prime Minister's residence on Lok Kalyan Marg. They demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan regarding the NEET scandal.
This protest ended in a clash with Delhi police in the high-security area of Lutyens' Delhi, after which opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were temporarily detained following a scuffle with security personnel.
