Friday 24 / July / 2026
New Delhi [India]: The Union Cabinet on Friday approved amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, amid continuing nationwide protests over the NEET examination paper leak.
The proposed amendment Bill is likely to be taken up for consideration and passage in Parliament on Monday (July 27).
The decision comes against the backdrop of sustained protests by students and opposition parties demanding accountability, a comprehensive investigation into the paper leak, and stronger safeguards to protect the integrity of public examinations.
The protests began at Jantar Mantar on June 6 and culminated in the "Sansad Chalo" march on July 20, with demonstrators pressing for systemic reforms in the examination process.
During the briefing on cabinet decisions, Information and Broadcasting Minsiter Ashwani Vaishnaw was asked several queries about the government's plan for strict actions against paper leaks and move for constituting a fast-track court, but he did not to answer them.
The monsoon session of parliament, which began on July 20, will continue till August 13.
Earlier in the day, representatives of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) met Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh to discuss their demands related to the ongoing agitation.
Following the meeting, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) claimed that the government had sought time till Saturday afternoon to deliberate on their demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
CJP's National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka also claimed that the government was positive on their other two demands, which included compensation for suicide victims of the NEET leak and no FIRs against protesting students.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Ranka said the government had asked for time to consider the demand and expressed hope that Pradhan would be removed from office.
"The government has asked for time till tomorrow afternoon on our demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. We hope the government will remove him soon," Ranka said.
Meanwhile, Union Minister JP Nadda, after meeting with the representatives, said that the government will hold another meeting with the CJP representatives tomorrow after holding internal discussions on the issues that were raised during Friday's meeting.
The Minister said that the CJP has put forward three main demands and five suggestions for examination reforms.
Nadda told reporters, "The meeting went on for almost two hours. They had three main demands and five reform suggestions for exams. We have told them that we will meet them again tomorrow afternoon and tell them about the discussion we had among the Government."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over NEET-UG paper leak
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday sharpened his attack on the Modi government over the NEET-UG row, alleging that Dharmendra Pradhan is a "criminal Education Minister" and "has to go".
Talking to the media here, Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said that there are three demands of students, including action against those who resorted to lathicharge against students during the "Sansad Chalo' march on July 20.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to the youth.
"Dharmendra Pradhan is a criminal Education Minister. He has to be removed. He is a symbol of the collapse of our education system. He has to go. He is the reason why thousands of people are outside. He has to go," Rahul Gandhi said.
"The person responsible for the paper leak should be sacked. There should be action against those who shot indulged in lathi-charged, attacked students. Narendra Modiji, who is the operator of the system, should apologise to the youth....Stop threatening youth, fulfil their demands," he added.
Rahul Gandhi brought before the media a protester, who he said had suffered pellet gun injuries during the protest and said there is no guarantee his eye would be saved.
"I want to explain that my brother standing here was injured by a pellet gun while he was peacefully protesting. The government has said that no pellet gun was used. His eye has suffered damage, not sure if his vision will be saved. Thousands of such youth were lathi-charged, and pellet guns were used against them. He gave an exam for police recruitment, but the paper was leaked."
Earlier today, Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met with the Cockroach Janata Party.
Nadda told reporters that the meeting went on for almost two hours. "They had three main demands and five reform suggestions for exams. We have told them that we will meet them again tomorrow afternoon and tell them about the discussion we had with the government."
CJP's National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka claimed that the government was positive on their other two demands, which included compensation for suicide victims of the NEET leak and no FIRs against protesting students.
The CJP and the opposition parties remain firm on their principal demand, seeking the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Meanwhile, activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day-long hunger strike on Thursday night after receiving a written assurance from the Union Government regarding the NEET examination issue and systemic reforms in the country's competitive testing framework.
Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh at Medanta Hospital.
CJP claims Centre sought time till Saturday to deliberate on demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation
After meeting the Union Government representatives including Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, the Cockroach Janata Party claimed that the government had sought time till Saturday afternoon to deliberate on their demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. After the nearly two hour long meeting CJP's National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka also claimed that the Government was positive on their other two demands which included compensatoin for suicide victims of the NEET leak and no FIRs against protesting students.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Ranka said the government had asked for time to consider the demand and expressed hope that Pradhan would be removed from office.
"The government has asked for time till tomorrow afternoon on our demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. We hope the government will remove him soon," Ranka said.
He also claimed that the government had expressed in-principle approval for two other demands raised by the party.
Ranka said these include providing compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide and withdrawing FIRs and other legal cases registered against students.
"The government has expressed in-principle approval on the two demands of compensation for families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide and withdrawal of FIRs and legal cases on students," he said.
The meeting, which took place amid evolving political developments, saw the leaders discussing a range of key issues. The specific agenda of the discussion was not officially disclosed yet.
The CJP, represented by activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, agreed to the dialogue after the government reportedly accepted two of their conditional demands: that no legal action would be taken against peaceful protesters and that adequate compensation would be provided to the families of students affected by the recent exam irregularities.
However, the CJP remains firm on its principal demand, seeking the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
This comes after Social activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day-long hunger strike after receiving a written assurance from the Union Government regarding the NEET examination issue and systemic reforms in the country's competitive testing framework.
Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh at Medanta Hospital.
