Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters co-founder Matt Chitharanjan praised the staff at the Janpath outlet in Delhi for helping people during the CJP's "Chalo Sansad" protest. Social media users said the cafe gave shelter to protesters, offered free water refills and provided first aid as police used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd. Chitharanjan shared a video on Instagram and said he was proud of the team. He also said kindness should not be seen as something rare. The protest was held over the alleged NEET paper leak and the demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed police officers quietly told him to "remove this government" while they detained him during a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Rahul said the officers were only following orders. He alleged they were unhappy with the government's handling of the NEET paper leak issue. Rahul said he was dragged away and suffered minor injuries but called it a small price to pay. He also claimed there were 152 paper leaks in the past decade with no convictions. Rahul again demanded Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said he will end his hunger strike only if the Centre promises not to take legal action against people who joined the CJP's "Chalo Sansad" march. In a letter to Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, he thanked them for meeting him and discussing his demands. These include help for families of students who died after the NEET paper leak and a debate in Parliament on accountability. Wangchuk said the July 20 protest was peaceful. He urged the government not to harass protesters and warned he would continue his fast without such assurance.

Delhi Police has directed all personnel deployed at Jantar Mantar to remain in full uniform and prohibited the use of plainclothes officers at the protest site. The move comes after allegations that unidentified men in civilian clothes were involved in assaulting demonstrators during recent anti-NEET protests. Police officials said only uniformed personnel will handle law and order duties to improve transparency and public confidence. The decision follows criticism from protesters, opposition leaders and rights groups over the alleged use of plainclothes officers during the crackdown. Authorities continue to maintain heightened security around Jantar Mantar amid ongoing demonstrations. (PC: The Indian Express)

Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday claimed the Centre assured him it would positively consider Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak. In a letter to Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh, Wangchuk said the government also promised to consider compensation for families of students who died by suicide and hold discussions on accountability. However, he said he would end his indefinite hunger strike only after receiving a clear assurance that no student or protester involved in the anti-NEET movement would face legal or retaliatory action. The Centre has not officially confirmed these assurances. (PC: X)

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Centre and Delhi Police over petitions alleging excessive force against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protesters. The court directed authorities to preserve CCTV footage and other evidence from the protest site. Petitioners claimed police assaulted protesters, including women, and used excessive force during the demonstration. The Centre, represented by Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, argued the petitions were filed only for publicity and said protesters had turned violent. The bench questioned that claim, asking, “How can you say this is a publicity petition?” The matter will be heard further after responses are filed. (PC: NDTV)

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Centre of failing students, claiming 152 examination paper leaks occurred over the past 10 years without a single conviction. Wearing a black armband, he called India's education system “rigged” and demanded Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Gandhi criticised police action against protesting students and said peaceful demonstrators were only seeking a fair examination system. Referring to the recent NEET controversy, he alleged repeated paper leaks had caused severe stress, ruined careers and even driven some students to suicide. The BJP rejected his allegations, calling the protest “childish” and politically motivated. (PC: India Today)

La Liga president Javier Tebas has strongly criticised FIFA over discussions to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams, accusing the governing body of damaging football. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tebas said FIFA was making “irresponsible” decisions that threaten domestic leagues, which he described as the foundation of the sport. He also said FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s time was “over” and criticised the organisation’s leadership structure. FIFA has not responded to the remarks. The proposed expansion is being discussed as part of the tournament’s centenary celebrations in 2030. (PC: X)

Head Constable Aashiq Hussain Qureshi of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was killed after terrorists opened fire at Lal Chowk in Anantnag on Wednesday while he was deployed for Amarnath Yatra security. He was taken to Government Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The attack is the first major terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir since the April 2025 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. Security forces have launched a search operation to trace the attackers. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack and said those responsible would be brought to justice. (PC: HT)

India has approved QDENGA (TAK-003), the country’s first dengue vaccine, marking a major step in preventing the mosquito-borne disease. Developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda, the vaccine protects against all four dengue virus strains and is given in two doses, three months apart. Unlike older dengue vaccines, QDENGA does not require prior dengue infection testing before vaccination. Clinical trials showed strong protection against severe dengue and hospitalisation. While the vaccine’s price and rollout timeline in India are yet to be announced, health experts say it will complement mosquito control, early diagnosis and public awareness efforts. (PC: X)