Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, has appealed to people not to criticise him for ending his 26-day hunger strike. She said Wangchuk is in the ICU after losing 11 kg and deserves compassion. In a post on X, she wrote, "He lies in the ICU today... The least we can offer him is a day of compassion." Wangchuk ended his fast after receiving written assurances from the government and Opposition leaders that the exam issue would be discussed in Parliament. He said he took the decision to avoid possible violence. The CJP protest will continue, protest leaders said.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk strongly rejected allegations that he struck a "deal" with the Centre to end his 26-day indefinite hunger strike over the NEET-UG paper leak and examination irregularities. In a video message, Wangchuk said he was disappointed by claims questioning his integrity, asking whether he still needed to "prove" his sincerity after fasting for nearly a month. He urged critics not to view his decision through political speculation. Earlier, his wife Gitanjali Angmo appealed to people not to judge him, revealing that Wangchuk is recovering in the ICU after losing 11 kg during the fast. Wangchuk ended his hunger strike at Medanta Hospital after weeks of negotiations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked young people for their “insightful” suggestions on his Instagram video through another reel as the government intensified its response to the nationwide agitation over alleged examination irregularities. The Union Cabinet approved a draft Bill proposing stricter punishments for paper leak cases, including tougher penalties for those involved in organised examination fraud. The development follows the Centre’s recent announcements on strengthening safeguards against paper leaks and reforming the examination system. Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) maintained that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation remains “non-negotiable”, arguing that legislative changes alone cannot address concerns over accountability amid the continuing nationwide protests demanding education reforms. (PC: PTI)

The Supreme Court on Friday barred the recording, extraction, modification, dissemination, monetisation and circulation of live-streamed courtroom proceedings without prior permission from the concerned court authorities, citing growing misuse of judicial videos on social media. The interim order, passed by a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant while hearing a PIL, also prohibits reposting and reviewing such recordings across digital platforms without approval from the Registrar or Secretary General of the Supreme Court or the Registrar General of High Courts. The court clarified that the restriction will not affect legitimate news reporting and is aimed solely at preventing unauthorised use of judicial proceedings online. (PC: The Indian Express)

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said he was "misquoted" over remarks suggesting the Supreme Court did not have time to watch videos related to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest controversy. Speaking on the sidelines of the UNCITRAL conference, the CJI clarified that the Supreme Court is open to every citizen and never refuses to hear any matter, while emphasising that due judicial procedure must be followed. Addressing the controversy surrounding his earlier comments, he reiterated the judiciary's commitment to accessibility and fairness. The clarification comes amid political debate and criticism linked to the student protests and the police crackdown following the July 20 demonstrations. (PC: India Today)

The demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation appears closer to consideration than before as talks between the Centre and Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continue amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. CJP leaders said Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh sought time until Saturday to respond on the resignation demand after a two-hour meeting, while indicating in-principle approval for compensation to affected families and withdrawal of cases against students. However, government sources maintained there was "no question" of Pradhan resigning. CJP insisted the resignation remains non-negotiable and warned of larger nationwide protests if no progress is made by the government's deadline. (PC: X)

The Centre held a two-hour meeting with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) representatives at Delhi's Constitution Club on Friday to discuss the ongoing protest over alleged examination irregularities. Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh described the discussions as constructive and said the government would review the demands. CJP leaders, however, insisted that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation remains non-negotiable and claimed the government sought time until Saturday afternoon to respond. While both sides agreed to continue dialogue, protesters said their agitation would continue until their core demands, including systemic exam reforms, are addressed. (PC: PTI)

The Campaign for Justice in Public Examinations (CJP) reaffirmed that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation remains a "non-negotiable" demand following a meeting with Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh at the Constitution Club. While the Centre reportedly agreed to consider some of the group's other demands, it sought additional time to respond on the resignation issue. CJP leaders said protests would continue until a satisfactory decision is made. The movement, sparked by alleged examination irregularities, also seeks compensation for affected families, protection for protesters, and broader reforms to restore transparency and accountability in India's competitive examination system. (PC: PTI)

Mumbai Police have issued a clarification after a viral video appeared to show a male police officer manhandling a woman during an incident in the city, sparking widespread public outrage on social media. Authorities stated that the clip does not present the full sequence of events and urged people not to draw conclusions based solely on the viral footage. A departmental inquiry has been initiated to determine the facts and assess whether police procedures were followed. Officials assured that appropriate action will be taken if any misconduct is established, while the investigation into the incident continues.

Representatives of the Central government and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) are holding discussions at the Constitution Club in New Delhi to address demands arising from the ongoing Jantar Mantar protests. The talks follow climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ending his hunger strike after receiving assurances of dialogue from the Centre. Despite this, CJP leaders have reiterated that their agitation will continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns and concrete action is taken on alleged examination irregularities. Protesters are also seeking greater transparency, accountability, and comprehensive reforms in the examination system, while negotiations between both sides remain ongoing. (PC: X)