A Jharkhand CID investigation into the 2024 JSSC-CGL examination reportedly found that 120 of 150 questions were leaked before the exam, with answers circulated through WhatsApp and other channels. According to documents accessed by NDTV, candidates allegedly received answers at locations including Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Patna, West Bengal and Nepal. An image reportedly timestamped 7:23 am on September 22, 2024, was cited as evidence. The CID submitted its report in March 2025, but the government later formed a second SIT that dismissed the leak allegations. Student protests over recruitment exams have continued in Ranchi. (PC: NDTV)

One of the two pilots operating an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight reportedly failed a post-flight dope test following a severe turbulence incident and sudden 300-foot altitude loss. Sources said both pilots have been removed from flying duties pending an inquiry. The incident, which occurred on August 5, injured at least 17 people, including four cabin crew members. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating the incident and will decide whether further investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is required. Air India said the drug-test results have not been shared with the airline and declined to comment on the reported findings. (PC: 

The Jharkhand government will hold a sixth round of talks with protesting recruitment-exam aspirants after a 16-day agitation over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for nearly a week, experienced a serious health deterioration, with doctors recording his blood glucose at 53. The government’s previous discussions with multiple student groups failed to resolve the deadlock. Protesters are demanding reforms, cancellation of disputed examinations and investigations into alleged irregularities. They have warned of an Assembly march on August 10 if their demands remain unresolved. (PC: X)

The Centre has clarified that UPI users will continue to make payments without transaction charges, despite recent legislative changes enabling the introduction of Merchant Discount Rates (MDR). The government said any future MDR would be nominal and restricted to a limited category of merchant transactions above a specified threshold. The vast majority of merchant transactions would also remain free, ensuring small businesses and everyday digital payments are not burdened. The clarification follows concerns after the Lok Sabha passed amendments allowing charges on UPI and other digital payments. The government aims to maintain UPI’s affordability while supporting the sustainability of its payment ecosystem. (PC: The Hindu)

Former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said that some people attempted to “mislead” Gen Z during protests over the NEET paper leak controversy. Speaking at GM University in Bhubaneswar, Pradhan defended his resignation, saying he had personally offered to step down and that the ministerial position was never important to him. He resigned as Education Minister on July 25 amid student protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Pradhan also criticised Odisha’s BJD leadership over protests against him. BJD leader Rohit Pujari rejected his claims and blamed the government’s handling of the student agitation. (PC: India Today)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday addressed students and competitive exam aspirants in Prayagraj, focusing on unemployment, paper leaks and India’s young population. At the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme, Gandhi described 40 crore young Indians as the country’s biggest strength and built his message around “dard, data and daulat”. He said expensive education was failing to guarantee jobs and claimed only 12 out of 1,000 young Indians secured permanent employment. Gandhi also called data a key economic asset in the age of AI and criticised social media addiction. The BJP hit back, asking why he did not visit protesting students in Jharkhand. (PC: India Today)

The government has clarified that UPI payments will remain free for users, even as a new law allows charges to be introduced on some transactions. Person-to-person payments will continue to have no fees, while most merchant transactions will also remain free. The government said a nominal, threshold-based Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) could be introduced for a limited group of merchant payments in the future. It said the move is aimed at supporting UPI’s long-term sustainability, cybersecurity, fraud prevention and infrastructure upgrades. The government also rejected claims of external influence, calling them “unfounded, completely false and misleading.” (PC: India Today)

Uttarakhand’s Renu Dhariyal has entered the Guinness World Records for having the longest hair on a living woman. Her hair measures an astonishing 271.50 cm, or 8 feet 10 inches. Dhariyal’s hair was measured and verified in Haldwani in April after she had grown it continuously since 2015 without cutting it. She said her decision was partly inspired by Indian cultural traditions, where long hair has long been linked with beauty. Maintaining her exceptionally long hair requires hours of washing and detangling. Dhariyal also makes natural hair-care products and shares beauty tips online, turning years of patience and care into a world record. (PC: India Today)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has expressed “complete solidarity” with students protesting in Ranchi over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in recruitment examinations. A CJP delegation, led by Mukesh and Akshay Shinde, arrived in Jharkhand to extend support to the protesting aspirants. The development came as the Jharkhand government held talks with several student groups but failed to end the agitation. Protesters are demanding action on alleged irregularities, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination. The government said the demands were genuine and would be placed before Chief Minister Hemant Soren for consideration. (PC: HT)

An Indian Air Force Wing Commander was arrested after allegedly sharing sensitive defence information with a woman he met on social media, police sources said. The officer reportedly communicated with her through chats and video calls. She allegedly gained his trust and asked for details about military movements, troop deployments, photos and documents. Investigators also found that he allegedly installed a suspicious app on a fellow officer’s phone. Police said the app could steal data, track locations or intercept communications. The woman was allegedly working for Pakistan-based handlers. A charge sheet was filed in July, and the case is currently before the court.