PM Modi constitutes task force on exam reforms, Nilekani to lead | LIVE

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday said that the party will look into the Punjab exam paper leak issue and announce its future course of action soon.

"We will announce the future strategy soon. It only just ended yesterday; please give us a little time. We will address that too; we are currently planning for it," Dipke said.

The CJP founder also said that discussions are underway with the government regarding FIRs registered against students involved in the protests, and demanded that no cases be filed against students.

"Talks are underway concerning the cases that have been filed. No cases should be registered against any student," he emphasised.

Hundreds of students gathered at Trafalgar Square in London on Sunday to express solidarity with the student movement in India led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

The 36-day agitation in New Delhi ended on Saturday with the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as the education minister.

The Students Federation of India (SFI) UK had organised the weekend protest, which turned into a "celebration of the victory" of the student movement in India.

It welcomed the resignation of Pradhan as education minister and reiterated its stance in support of educational reforms.

"SFI UK salutes the struggle of the student movement and its success in pushing the education minister to resign," SFI UK said in a statement.

"The fight has been very inspiring and courageous. But it has certainly not yet come to an end. We continue to grieve for the 21 students who have lost their lives due to the handling of NEET, and of course, the brutal police repression against protestors," it stated.

The large gathering at one of London's most iconic squares waved the Indian national flag and placards reading "Ban NEET" and "Diaspora stands with people's resistance".

The crowds chanted slogans of "Azadi" and sang songs such as 'Yeh Subah Kabhi To Aayegi' and Tagore's 'Ekla Chalo Re'.

"All the international students gathered here, please organise around these issues in your campuses," said one SFI UK worker.

"In the last couple of years, we have seen a rise in the number of Indian students coming here to study in the UK. These are students who are taking massive loans to study here because our country cannot provide them the education that they need or the job opportunities that they need," the worker added.

Similar SFI UK-led demonstrations were planned in other cities, such as Leeds and Liverpool in England, and followed similar protests held in solidarity with the CJP agitation in New Delhi.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday welcomed the constitution of a high-powered task force announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to recommend reforms to make the examination system leak-proof.

The task force will be headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani.

The prime minister's announcement comes a day after the 36-day agitation, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), ended with the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as the Education Minister.

"I wholeheartedly welcome this excellent decision by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. There could be no better person than Shri @NandanNilekani Ji to lead this High-Powered Task Force. He has a rich experience of demonstrating how large-scale public systems can be made more leak-proof and citizen-centric," Sarma said in a post on X.

This committee also has very distinguished members who have dedicated their lives in furthering national building through innovation and determination, he said.

"A credible examination system rests on transparency, integrity and the trust of our students. Achieving this requires honest introspection and a commitment to building a more robust and student-centric process," the CM said.

He expressed confidence that this initiative will further strengthen India's "Reform Express" and deliver a fair, merit-based and transparent process for the students.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding accountability for the "barbaric assault" on peacefully protesting students here and asking whether he approved the use of "lethal force", including pellet guns, against the youth.

In his letter to Shah, Gandhi said peaceful protest is crucial to any democracy, and it is the government's responsibility to protect protestors and resolve their grievances through dialogue.

"Such brutal violence destroys every norm, and has outraged the country. Youth and students, the future of our country, are demanding answers and accountability. Their voice will be heard," the former Congress chief said.

"I write to demand accountability for the barbaric assault on students who were peacefully protesting in Delhi on July 20, 2026. Our students were demanding a fair and accountable education system. Instead of being heard, security forces assaulted them with indiscriminate force, including lethal weapons and tear gas," Gandhi said in his letter dated July 25.

"Hundreds have suffered serious injuries, and women students have been assaulted by policemen, including by deliberately targeting their private parts," he stated.

Gandhi said the most shocking has been the use of pellet guns.

"Reports in the media and social media clearly show people who have suffered grave injuries, including a journalist. I met 19-year-old student Sahil Lochab, who is now in severe pain and is likely to lose an eye because he was shot with pellet guns," he said.

"Security forces deployed in Delhi answer ultimately to you, so I ask: As Home Minister, did you approve the use of lethal force, including pellet guns against students? If not, who did?" Gandhi said.

The Congress leader also asked whether the plainclothesmen seen beating students with lathis were police or volunteers.

"Peaceful protest is crucial to any democracy. It is the government's responsibility to protect protestors and resolve their grievances through dialogue. Such brutal violence destroys every norm, and has outraged the country. Youth and students, the future of our country, are demanding answers and accountability. Their voice will be heard," he said to Shah.

Welcoming the Centre's reforms for the NEET examination to tackle paper leaks, ABVP said on Sunday that objectionable remarks were made against the Indian Army during the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar, and alleged that the students' stir was exploited for a political, "anti-national" agenda.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), however, did not specify what anti-Army remarks were made at the protest site, where a 36-day protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) ended on Saturday after the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

All India Students' Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora, in her victory speech after former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, broadened the agitation against examination irregularities to other ongoing struggles, demanding an end to "state repression".

Addressing supporters at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, Neha extended solidarity with tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh protesting against the Ken-Betwa river-link project, students fighting to protect public universities, political prisoners, and those detained during the recent protests against the NEET question paper leak.

She sought the immediate release of students allegedly detained in Delhi and Bihar during the anti-NEET paper leak protest, claiming that police have been profiling students of Jamia Millia Islamia University.

She also claimed that the family of Mohammad Junaid, who was a volunteer at the protest, was being harassed in Uttar Pradesh because of his role in the Jantar Mantar protest.

The AISA leader said the movement would continue to support such struggles legally and politically.

Neha said Pradhan's resignation was significant not merely because a minister had stepped down but because it had restored faith in the power of democratic protests.

"The resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan is not just the resignation of one person. It has broken the atmosphere of hopelessness: the belief that no matter how much people protest, nothing changes. This victory shows that even against a brutal regime, victory is possible," she said.

Calling it a victory of ordinary students, she said the agitation demonstrated that sustained public pressure could force accountability from the government.

Referring to the police action against protesters during the July 20 Parliament march, Neha alleged that the crackdown had only strengthened the resolve of young people to continue democratic struggles.

The Congress on Sunday derided the Modi government's committee on exam reforms as a "high-powered attempt to fix the Pradhan Mantri's irretrievably compromised image."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced the constitution of a high-powered task force, headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, on forging reforms for the examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency.

The task force will give suggestions on maximum use of technology for setting up a robust and transparent examination system, Modi said in a video message posted on Instagram.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Friends, in June 2024, after it bungled multiple examinations including NEET-UG, the Modi Government constituted a High-Level Committee of Experts headed by Dr. K Radhakrishnan to 'ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations.'"

In July 2026, the Modi government bungled the NEET-UG and other exams and has now constituted another "High Powered Task Force", he said on X.

Ramesh said the new committee comes even as the Modi government has still not finished implementing the K Radhakrishnan Committee's 101 recommendations.

For most of the two years between the 2024 and 2026 paper leaks, it didn't even appoint a full-time director general for the National Testing Agency, he said.

"This is ultimately only a High-Powered attempt to fix the Pradhan Mantri's irretrievably compromised image," the Congress leader said.

The Mumbai Congress on Sunday said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak was "not the end", asserting that its agitation would continue until students receive justice.

Addressing a 'Tiranga' march in the Chandivali area to celebrate Pradhan's resignation, senior party leader Naseem Khan demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance examination and strict action against those responsible.

"The resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan is only the first step in the students' fight for justice. It's not the end. Justice will be done only when there is an impartial investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court and every guilty person is punished," he said.

Khan also demanded that all cases registered against students during protests in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra be withdrawn immediately.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to students across the country over the alleged injustice meted out to them.

The march was led by Khan and Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. It began from the Bail Bazaar Municipal School and culminated at Sakinaka Metro station, where participants sang the national anthem and distributed chocolates.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday said the countdown to the BJP-led government's fall has begun, claiming that the collective power of the nation's youth has rattled the ruling party.

Speaking to reporters after the 'Tiranga' rally here to celebrate Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as education minister, Thackeray demanded that all police cases filed against protesting students in Delhi and Mumbai be immediately withdrawn.

Pradhan's resignation has evoked so much happiness in the country, he remarked.

Claiming that the fight has now become BJP vs India, the former Maharashtra minister said, "The countdown for the government's fall has begun."

"A dictator has been rattled, the dictatorship is shaken. This is the power of youth, power of new India," he said.

From minister Pradhan to the prime minister, it won't be long. This generation will ask questions which the PM is not used to answering, Thackeray said.

Multidisciplinary group of domain experts to help revamp NTA examination especially technology perspective and for structural reforms in the system.

Technology Expert Nandan Nilekani

Former ISRO Chairman S Somnath

Former IB Director Tapan Deka

IIT Chennai Director V Kamakoti

Former Education Secretary Anita Karwal

Logistics Expert Amrit Lal Meena

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday blamed Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the police action against those who took part in the Cockroach Janta Party-led agitation at Jantar Mantar in the national capital.

During the CJP's 'Sansad Chalo' march on July 20 seeking the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister, participants and security personnel comprising Delhi police and CRPF's Rapid Action Force units clashed at several places.

It gave rise to allegations of high-handedness on part of the force, including use of pellet guns. Delhi police has denied its personnel used pellet guns against protesters during the march.

Students were attacked and women were harassed, Raut alleged. The Union home minister is responsible for it, he further claimed.

Shah is responsible for whatever bad and undemocratic is happening in the country, the Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP alleged.

"Amit Shah wants to become deputy PM of the country at the earliest and then PM. He wants to defame the PM and remove him from the post. This is inside news," Raut claimed.

Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat on Sunday expressed pride that Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and a resident of his assembly constituency, had sparked a revolution and deserved security.

Shirsat, who is also the guardian minister of Aurangabad West constituency, was speaking to reporters after visiting Dipke's family in the Waluj MIDC area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

The youth-led CJP scored a momentous win on Saturday when its 36-day agitation over irregularities in the exam system and the NEET paper leak culminated in the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Shirsat said Dipke, who is yet to return home despite the CJP calling off its protest as he has got typhoid, must be given security.

"His parents were worried because every parent wants their kids to remain safe. They are like family, and I came here not merely as the guardian minister. Security must be provided to Abhijeet when he reaches Maharashtra. I will talk to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about this," he said.

The minister, whose party is an ally of the ruling BJP, said he did not visit Dipke's family earlier because it might have been viewed through a political lens. Shirsat said he has known Dipke's family for more than 25 years and had also enquired about the 30-year-old activist's health.

On Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray's joint rally at Shivaji Park, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has said, “I have no objection. In fact, I am happy that they found a reason to celebrate, and we are happy as well. Ultimately, these issues do not belong to any individual or any political party. They concern the future of the country's youth. Keeping this in mind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi acted with sensitivity and took the necessary decisions in the interest of the nation. I believe the bill will also be discussed in Parliament on Monday. To ensure that the future of our youth remains secure, the government has decided to bring in one of the toughest laws against paper leaks and examination fraud. Such a stringent law has rarely been seen anywhere in the world. I sincerely thank Prime Minister Modi for taking this decision.”

INDIA bloc parties are set to press for an urgent discussion in Parliament on the alleged use of excessive force against students protesting over the NEET paper leak, with Rahul Gandhi writing to Home Minister Amit Shah seeking accountability and TMC's Sagarika Ghose moving a notice for the suspension of the day's business to take up the issue of "grave national importance" on Monday.

While the Centre is scheduled to introduce a bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday to strengthen the anti-paper leak law and the Cockroach Janta Party(CJP) has called off its agitation following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister and the acceptance of other demands by the government, Congress and other opposition parties are in no mood to relent.

They are expected to demand answers from the government in both Houses over allegations of pellet gun use, the deployment of men in plain clothes during the July 20 protest and the injuries suffered by several students.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) carried out an overnight clean-up operation at Jantar Mantar after the conclusion of the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) month-long protest, with workers clearing garbage, washing roads and restoring the site before Sunday morning.

During a visit to the protest site, NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the civic body had deployed all available resources to restore the area after protesters dispersed.

"After the protest ended yesterday and people began leaving, our entire NDMC team worked through the night. We cleaned the entire Jantar Mantar area, clearing garbage, washing the roads, repainting walls, and restoring the site. All our resources were deployed," Chahal told reporters.

The agitation, which lasted more than a month, concluded on Saturday following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest had centred on the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and alleged examination irregularities.

Following the Centre's assurance that cases against the NEET paper leak protesters would be withdrawn, Delhi Police sources told PTI on Sunday that it would take further action only after receiving official communication and guidelines from the competent authority.

The source said 15 FIRs have been registered so far at different police stations in the New Delhi district in connection with the July 20 violence and other incidents linked to the ongoing protests.

On Saturday, at a joint press conference with Cockroach Janata Party spokespersons Saurav Das and Abhiseh Ranka, Union minister JP Nadda had said that the government agreed to withdraw FIRs registered against protesters and would provide a written assurance on the agreed demands by Tuesday.

"We will act according to the guidelines and official communication after receiving from the competent authority," the source said.

The source, however, said the announcement regarding withdrawal of the cases would not affect the ongoing investigation into the alleged larger conspiracy behind the clashes.

Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday met injured protesters from Siwan at Medanta Hospital and enquired about their health.

In a post on X, Yadav said peaceful protest is an essential democratic right that allows citizens to express their views and dissent, while demanding immediate action against Bihar Police personnel who allegedly opened fire on students during the protest.

"The student injured by police gunfire meets with fellow protesters to inquire about their well-being. In a democracy, peaceful protest is an essential right that allows citizens to express their dissent and ideas, holding unchecked power accountable. The Bihar government must take immediate action against the police personnel who fired upon the students," said Yadav.

Earlier, student protests in Siwan turned violent as demonstrators clashed with police personnel in the area. Following reports of stone-pelting, police fired tear gas shells and resorted to a lathicharge to disperse the crowd, which was demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy.

Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy on Sunday called for stringent laws to safeguard the students from paper leak scams, demanding comprehensive reforms in India's education and examination frameworks.

Speaking to ANI, he urged both Houses of Parliament to lead a structured nationwide debate to protect the interests of students.

"Reforms in both the education and examination systems are essential. This issue should be discussed in Parliament, in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. We must consider the suggestions of the opposition, experts, and stakeholders. Necessary changes should be made, and responsibility must be fixed," he said.

Reddy called for a unified, institutional approach to safeguard meritocracy and student welfare. He also demanded stringent legal provisions to ensure that those in positions of trust face severe consequences if failures occur.

"Those entrusted with work must be held accountable. If anyone commits a mistake, the punishment should be stringent because the future of millions of young people is at stake. No one should be allowed to manipulate it. That is why we are demanding a systematic discussion, debate, and laws to protect these interests," he added.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday claimed that there has not been a single case of paper leak of a competitive examination during the past four-and-a-half years of the AAP rule in the state.

His remark came in the wake of the opposition parties targeting the Punjab government and alleging "many paper leaks" in the state.

Mann was addressing a state-level function in Zirakpur to honour the 882 students of government schools who passed the NEET-UG re-exam recently.

Only a single cheating case came to light, but the Punjab Police dismantled a highly sophisticated, inter-state cheating racket operating during the recently held pharmacy officer examination, he said.

In this instance, the use of pen cameras and real-time dictation during the exam by a candidate was detected in Ferozepur. "Within minutes, those cheating and the gang behind them were caught and jailed," Mann said.

With opposition mounting attacks on Mann government over alleged paper leaks in the state, the chief minister said, "We have been in power for the past four-and-a-half years. Not a single paper leak has happened in Punjab."

The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on Sunday put up hoardings thanking Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, saying the move marked the first victory of students' nationwide agitation against alleged paper leaks.

The hoardings were put up mainly at Raisina Road in Lutyens' Delhi, where the IYC headquarters is located.

Delhi Youth Congress president Akshay Lakra claimed that the resignation of the former Union education minister Pradhan was the result of sustained protests by students and the Congress under Gandhi's leadership.

"What was being projected as impossible under the Modi government became a reality because of students' struggle and Rahul Gandhi's leadership. But our fight is not over," Lakra said.

He said the Congress' youth wing would continue its agitation until those responsible for the alleged police excesses against students were held accountable and PM Modi apologised to students.

Dharmendra Pradhan news LIVE: Following the exit of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to widespread student protests, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has called for stronger legal measures to curb examination paper leaks.

Speaking to ANI, Reddy said paper leaks undermine the future of students and stressed that accountability must be enforced without political or geographical considerations.

"As far as paper leaks are concerned, it does not matter whether they happen in Telangana, Punjab, or any other state. They should not happen anywhere. If they do, those responsible must be identified immediately, punished, and held accountable. We need legal reforms to prevent such incidents, and those involved must be arrested and imprisoned. That is our demand," he said.

Dharmendra Pradhan news LIVE: What began as a small protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar soon grew into a nationwide movement, with the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) 36-day agitation drawing lakhs of supporters, sparking demonstrations across several cities and ultimately culminating in Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

Starting on June 6, the CJP movement grew across India as thousands of Indian youths joined in. On June 20, the CJP announced an indefinite sit-in. Eight days later, activist Sonam Wangchuk began his indefinite hunger strike.

A month later, protestors were met with lathis and tear gas from the police as they made their way towards the Parliament. However, the crackdown, which was aimed at slowing down the movement, only made it grow as thousands gathered daily at Jantar Mantar to demand the resignation of the education minister. Read the full account here

Dharmendra Pradhan news LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has posted on cricket, a Unesco heritage listing, Kargil Vijay Diwas and clips from his monthly radio address ‘Mann ki Baat’ in the 24 hours since Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as education minister — but has said nothing about Pradhan or the resignation that ended the Cockroach Janta Party-led youth protest.

Pradhan announced his exit on X at 2.18 pm on July 25, taking responsibility for the NEET-UG paper leak in May, but insisting he was resigning so that “anti-national forces” wouldn't take advantage of the CJP protest; he also attacked the Opposition led by Rahul Gandhi, though not taking names.

In the 24 hours that followed, PM Modi made at least nine posts on his own X handle (@narendramodi). None referred to Pradhan, the resignation or the CJP protest. A tenth post since the resignation came just before the publishing of this report, at 3:02 pm, in which he congratulated Anahat Singh for becoming the first Indian squash player ever to win the World Junior Championship title.

Dharmendra Pradhan news LIVE: Newly appointed education minister Pralhad Joshi has stated that the education ministry is a "new area of work" for the BJP leader.

"I have been attending meetings to understand all the details and information about the ministry and its decisions. It is a new area of work for me, I have tried gaining best knowledge and have talked to senior officials. The department is quite big and thus I will prioritise understanding it first and then delivering," he told reporters on Sunday after assuming office.