“The Central Government has expressed its agreement to provide compensation to the families of the deceased students and to withdraw the FIRs registered against the protesters, but we will accept nothing less than the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. We have given the government 24 hours to consider this,” said a representative of the Cockroach Janta Party.

-Vijaita Singh

After his meeting with representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party, Union MInister J.P. Nadda said that the representatives will meet again on Saturday for further talks.

-PTI

We told the Union ministers that our demand for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan is non-negotiable, says CJP’s Saurav Das after the meeting with the Government.

“We have demanded ₹1 crore compensation for families of suicide victims, and that FIR against protesters should be withdrawn,” he said.

-PTI

A crucial meeting between representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the government is underway at the Vithalbhai Patel House on Friday as part of efforts to reach an amicable solution to the outfit’s demands regarding exam irregularities.

While the government is represented by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh, the CJP was represented by its national spokesperson Saurav Das and another youth.

This was the third official meeting between the CJP and the government.

-PTI

Nearly 500 students marched through central Hyderabad on Friday (July 24, 2026) afternoon as part of a Statewide bandh called by student organisations, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy and condemning the police action against protesters during the recent Parliament march in Delhi.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia assured that anyone playing with the future of students would face strict punishment, stating that the government would set up fast-track courts to ensure speedy justice in cases of paper leaks.

Speaking to reporters in Gwalior, Mr. Scindia described the NEET paper leak as “wrong” and emphasised that protecting hard-working students is the utmost responsibility of every government.

PTI

New Delhi metro station has been closed till further instructions. No interchange facility shall be available at this station, according to the post on X. 

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“Last night, the Education Secretary was transferred. He was replaced by an IAS officer from the Animal Husbandry Department who has severe multi-crore corruption charges against him,” Mr. Dipke wrote on X.

“The entire crisis around paper leaks and NEET was about systemic corruption. Replacing one bureaucrat with another facing serious corruption allegations is a direct INSULT to young people across India,” he added.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday (July 24, 2026) dismissed as “reckless” media reports that he had denied urgent hearing on a plea challenging the July 20 police action against students, saying it was only a representation and not a petition.

No such petition was filed, he stated. “In the last two days, a completely false statement was made that a matter was filed, and the media is absolutely free from all responsibility and falsely reporting that the Chief Justice refused to list the matter,” he said.

PTI

Sonam Wangchuk termed the end of his 26-day hunger strike the “beginning of accountability”, saying he decided to call off the fast only after receiving assurances from the government and MPs across parties on his key demands for examination reforms and protection of the peaceful protesters.

The educator-activist also said that he extended his fast by two days because negotiations with the Centre were continuing.

Hearing a PIL seeking an NIA probe into the CJP-led Jantar Mantar protest, the Chief Justice observed that the law lays down a specific process - an FIR must first be registered, the matter forwarded by the State to the Centre, and only then can the Centre decide whether it is a fit case for an NIA investigation.

“You are asking us to form an opinion on the fitness of the case. That task has been entrusted to the Central government. Can we substitute its view?” the Bench remarked.

The matter will be heard again at 2.30 p.m. today.

Rocky Soibam

Delhi Police Mobile Command and Control Vehicles, including Ikshana vehicles are capturing live footage of the protest and scanning protesters on site at Jantar Mantar.

Photo credit: Srimanshi Kaushik

After DU, JNU has asked students to refrain from participating in protest in or around Jantar Mantar. JNU said in a notice on Friday, “All stakeholders of JNU’s epistemic community are advised to act responsibly and prioritise their personal safety. In accordance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India’s directions on public demonstrations, you are requested to refrain from participating in or visiting gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.” ​

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Criticising Delhi university’s restrictions on protest, Rahul Gandhi said, “How dare you threaten students for exercising their democratic rights? Please note, you are the ones that will be held accountable when the time comes.”

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Photo credit: Suruchi Kumari

CJP spokesperson Sourav Das said, “If narrative is being pushed that we are foreign funded, why is the government engaging with Sonam Wangchuk? Why is the government engaging with us?

We also know PILs are being filed against the movement in courts. NIA probe as been requested through PIL, we request the judges of the country to not let their order politicise or weaponised by political considerations. We request the judges to stand on the right side of the history, stand with the future of the country who are out on road for so those days.”- Suruchi Kumari

Abhijeet Dipke said that the police must take back all the cases it has registered on protesters who joined the Parliament March on July 20.

Answering a question, he said the protest will go on. “Now the entire country has joined us. We will not step back until we get the resignation.” Mr. Dipke said.

- Suruchi Kumari

“Ashutosh and I have been called at 12.30 p.m. to meet J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh,” Saurav Das said while addressing a press conference. “We had kept two demands, including non-negotiables, after the first round of talks. The meeting will take place at a neutral place instead of their house and office. Yesterday, we got a confirmation that the meeting will take place at the Constitution Club,” he added.

-Suruchi Kumari

Internet shutdown around Jantar Mantar reaches the Delhi High Court. On being mentioned, the HC agreed to hear the PIL on an urgent basis on Friday (July 24, 2026).

-Rocky Soibam

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka says, “We want to make it very clear that until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, the protest at Jantar Mantar will continue.”- ANI

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said on Friday, “Physically I’m still feeling weak due to fever, but the fight must go on. Our peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.”

Two days after ​The Hindu’s report on use of pellet guns​ by the Rapid Action Force (RAF) against unarmed protesters during July 20 march to Parliament, a CRPF official said that they are “verifying media reports” on the issue. The official said no action taken so far, veracity is still being ascertained. 

Earlier, Delhi Police had denied the usage of pellet guns against protesters. Pellet guns and shock-batons are part of RAF’s gear, which worked alongside Delhi Police and was deployed in and around Jantar Mantar on July 20. RAF is the specialised anti-riot unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

- Vijaita Singh

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The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday (July 24, 2026), said in a post on X addressing PM Modi, “Before coming to Parliament today, come after dismissing Dharmendra Pradhan. First, apologise to the students and take strict action against those who ordered the use of lathis, batons, and Pellet Guns to suppress the students’ voices. Then we are ready for a detailed Discussion on the education system.”

More than two decades after the 2003 Common Admission Test (CAT) paper leak, two Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases against Ranjit Singh alias Ranjit “Don” — described as an “education mafia” figure in some media reports — remain pending before courts in Delhi and Patna. The Patna case is at the trial stage, while the proceedings in the other case are yet to reach that point.

Read the full story here,

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said on Friday (July 24, 2026), “The desperate and hassled-looking Pradhan Mantri finally broke his two-month-long silence late last night via a video message to speak on paper leaks. Remember that the Modi Sarkar has long denied that the NEET-UG 2026 exam was leaked. The Mantri Pradhan deliberately refused to use the word leak in his press conference and the Education Ministry officially denied that a paper leak occurred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education. It is only the outpouring of public anger over the last two months that has made the Pradhan Mantri accept the truth.”

DMRC has closed 17 stations from 07:30 a.m. on Friday (July 24, 2026) until further notice due to heightened security concerns amid the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar. ​

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“The Modi government routinely uses violence in preference to dialogue. The pattern is clear, from farmers to activists. But this week, even a government as insensitive as the one that has set new standards of authoritarian governance, sank to a new low. Instead of reaching out with understanding to our future doctors and engineers, teachers and civil servants, entrepreneurs and nation builders, it unleashed the repressive power of the state on them. This can neither be forgiven or forgotten,” writes Sonia Gandhi.

Maintaining pressure on the government both inside and outside Parliament, the Opposition refused the government’s offer of a debate on paper leaks, arguing that any discussion must be preceded by the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Later in the evening, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi led INDIA bloc MPs in a symbolic march to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg, where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, expressing solidarity with students protesting against paper leaks.

Read the story here,

With a nationwide protest call on Friday (July 24, 2026), Delhi University on Thursday evening asked its students to “stay away from Jantar Mantar” and prioritise safety and compliance with the law. The advisory comes amid criticism from students and teachers after the university and some colleges backed the government’s actions.

Read the story here,

Three days after several videos of police using disproportionate force, including pellet guns, against unarmed men and women during the July 20 march to Parliament emerged on social media, the Delhi Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had yet to issue a statement or clarify their position.

Read the story here,

Saurav Das, Chief Spokesperson, Cockroach Janta Party, says, “... , a discussion has been called for, we are very happy that the government has agreed to our request that it be at a neutral venue. The Constitution Club of India has been chosen...”- ANI

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has said the “strictest action” the government could take against examination irregularities was to remove Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that a bill providing for stringent action against paper leaks would be introduced in Parliament.

CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, in response to the prime minister’s remarks, said, “Modi ji, remove Dharmendra Pradhan tomorrow. That’s the strictest action you can take.” CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also reacted to the Prime Minister’s announcement by taking to X to share an image of a man locking the gate of a compound with no boundary walls, in an apparent swipe at the proposed legislation.

-PTI

Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his indefinite hunger strike after the government assured him that his demands would be met.

He announced the end of his fast after Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met him at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram around Thursday midnight and conveyed the government’s assurances.

“Just now in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda, Dr Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of the Apex Body of Leh Ladakh, I finally broke my fast after 26 days,” Wangchuk said in a post on X.

-PTI