Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike shortly after midnight on Thursday at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, saying the decision followed long negotiations and concerns over possible violence across the country. Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh were present when he broke his fast, alongside his wife, Gitanjali. In a post on X, Wangchuk said 65 MPs from different parties had urged him to end the fast and promised to explain the negotiated conditions in a separate video. He also appealed for non-violence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the decision, wishing Wangchuk a speedy recovery and urging him to follow doctors' advice.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the Centre will unveil a new set of stringent measures to tackle examination paper leaks at the Union Cabinet meeting on Friday. The announcement comes amid intensifying nationwide protests over the NEET controversy and growing demands for accountability in recruitment and entrance examinations. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, "More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow's Cabinet!" The proposed measures are expected to strengthen the government's ongoing crackdown on exam fraud and reinforce efforts to safeguard the integrity of competitive examinations. Friday's Cabinet decisions are likely to outline the Centre's next phase of action against paper leak networks.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar has witnessed an unprecedented surge in participation, with protesters saying the turning point was the July 20 police action rather than Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike or CJP leadership. Many students who had only supported the movement online travelled to Delhi after videos of the alleged lathi-charge and tear gas went viral. Protesters say the crackdown transformed frustration over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak into widespread anger, drawing thousands to the capital. The Parliament march on July 20 turned violent, following clashes between protesters and security personnel, further fuelling nationwide outrage and significantly expanding the scale of the agitation. (PC: NY Times)

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar backed students protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak, urging society to uphold honesty and merit over shortcuts. In a social media post, Tendulkar recalled his father, a professor, teaching him that “failure is okay, cheating is not,” stressing that integrity must remain central to education. He said students' disappointment was understandable when hard work goes unrewarded and called on parents, teachers, schools, administrators and society to ensure merit prevails. Emphasising that young Indians' dreams power the nation's future, Tendulkar urged collective efforts to build a culture where honesty is encouraged and hard work is rewarded, expressing confidence that lasting solutions would safeguard students' aspirations. (PC: HT)

Delhi Police has removed Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba from protest duty at Jantar Mantar after a viral video appeared to show him slapping a woman during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Chalo Sansad’ march. According to reports, he has been reassigned to his original posting in the North East district following a senior-level review, though officials said he was also injured during the clashes. The incident was cited before the Delhi High Court during hearings on alleged police excesses, with the court directing authorities to preserve CCTV footage and related records. Meanwhile, TMC MP Saket Gokhale sought an FIR against Lamba, demanding accountability for alleged police misconduct during the protests.

Author Twinkle Khanna has voiced support for students protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak, saying she is proud of young Indians for having the courage to dissent despite facing tear gas and baton charges. In an Instagram post, she said the saddest part was that students had to endure such circumstances while demanding accountability. Earlier, actor Salman Khan had also backed the protesters, calling the paper leak a serious issue and expressing concern over reports of violence during what he described as a peaceful movement. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court agreed to hear a PIL seeking an NIA probe into the July 20 "Sansad Chalo" protest and related FIRs on Friday. (PC: Tring)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced fast-track courts to ensure swift punishment for those involved in paper leak cases, calling the protection of students' future a top priority. The announcement, made 34 days after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) launched nationwide protests, received support from BJP leaders, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman. However, the Opposition dismissed the move as inadequate. Rahul Gandhi, AAP leaders and other opposition parties demanded Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, while CJP said systemic reforms and accountability were more important than post-facto punishment. The party also announced nationwide protests on July 24. (PC: HT)

Hundreds of students and protesters in Mizoram sang 'Give Me Some Sunshine' from the film '3 Idiots' during a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest, creating a peaceful moment that has gone viral on social media. The video shows participants standing together and singing instead of raising slogans, with many describing it as a symbol of solidarity over education and examination reforms. The protest is part of a nationwide movement demanding accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak and broader changes to the education system. The clip has drawn widespread praise for its peaceful and emotional expression of students' concerns.

Authorities have extended the internet shutdown in parts of Central Delhi until midnight as tensions continued during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest over the alleged NEET paper leak. Police and protesters faced off near Sansad Marg, with reports of bottles being thrown at security personnel. Heavy police deployment remains in place, while 16 Delhi Metro stations remain closed. The government has offered another round of talks, with Union minister J P Nadda saying discussions can be held at his office or residence. CJP leaders have demanded a neutral venue and continue to seek Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. (PC: HT)

Actor Imran Khan joined a student protest march in Mumbai on Thursday, expressing solidarity with the CJP-led movement demanding education reforms. Responding to a question about artists who avoid political issues, Imran said, “If you can’t stand by your opinions and pour your heart into your art, your art has no value.” A day earlier, he criticised the alleged use of force against student protesters, saying the system had failed young people seeking accountability. The nationwide protests began over alleged exam paper leaks and have drawn support from several public figures, including Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt.