The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has ordered a temporary ban on messaging platform Telegram in India under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The restriction will remain in effect until June 22, covering the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21.

The government has also directed Telegram to disable its message editing feature in India until June 30, even after the exam lifts. This means users will not be able to edit previously sent messages during this period.

According to the National Testing Agency (NTA), the action was taken because certain individuals were using Telegram's edit function to create fake evidence of paper leaks in national-level examinations. "Some people would edit old messages and add question papers or PDFs to them. Later, it was claimed that the paper had leaked before the exam," an NTA press release stated.

Multiple channels demanding money for exam papers

The agency said several Telegram channels were operating under names like "Paper Leaked NEET", "Re-NEET 2026", "Private Mafia", and "REE NEET MAFIAA". Officials said these channels were demanding thousands to lakhs of rupees from students and parents in exchange for purported exam papers.

The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), in collaboration with Bihar, Gujarat, and Rajasthan Police, has already taken action against several Telegram channels, groups, and bots. The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has arrested members of an interstate cyber fraud gang linked to the racket.

Investigations have so far revealed eight Telegram channels, transactions worth approximately ₹1.5 crore, and about 1,000 mobile numbers connected to the fraud, police sources said.

NTA: Ban last resort, inconvenience unavoidable

The NTA acknowledged the ban might inconvenience general users but defended the move as a last resort. "Prior to this, several steps were taken, including the removal of objectionable content. This decision was necessary to maintain the fairness of examinations," the agency said.

The NEET-UG examination, originally conducted on May 3, was cancelled following allegations of question paper leaks in several states. The NTA scrapped the exam on May 12 after investigation found indications of irregularities. The re-examination will now be held on June 21.

Changes made for re-exam

The NTA has increased the exam duration from 180 minutes to 195 minutes for the re-test. Space for rough work has also been expanded in the answer sheet.

NEET serves as the gateway to over 1 lakh medical seats across India, including MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, nursing, and other courses at premier institutions such as AIIMS and JIPMER.

The agency has advised students not to trust unconfirmed information circulating on social media and to rely only on official updates at neet.nta.nic.in. Further details on the ban's enforcement are awaited.

Student-led outfit threatens indefinite Delhi sit-in from June 20 if Dharmendra Pradhan is not removed over exam irregularities.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday initiated a fresh phase of its student-led nationwide stir from Pune, demanding the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The agitation, which follows a sizeable rally at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on June 6, marks a major escalation in public dissatisfaction surrounding alleged irregularities, paper leaks, and technical glitches in national entrance and recruitment exams.

Organisers stated that the agitation will quickly expand from Pune to other major urban hubs, including Lucknow, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Jaipur, and Hyderabad. The youth outfit has issued an ultimatum to the Centre, warning of an indefinite, peaceful sit-in at Jantar Mantar from June 20 if their demand to sack the education minister is not met.

Pune becomes the new flashpoint

The choice of Pune for kicking off the state-level rallies drew considerable student traction on Thursday morning. The city’s prominent coaching and educational hubs saw scattered student groups assembling under the CJP banner. Local authorities deployed additional police personnel around key university premises to maintain law and order, though the demonstrations remained peaceful through the afternoon.

Sonam Wangchuk lends high-profile support

In a significant boost to the movement’s visibility, prominent environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk is expected to join the Pune leg of the agitation. Organisers believe Wangchuk’s participation will broaden the appeal of the CJP Pune protest, transforming it from a youth-centric grievance cell into a larger civic movement for institutional accountability. The party has actively appealed to parents, teachers, and civil society members to join the demonstrations.

Deadlines set for Delhi escalation

Should the Union government choose to ignore the current wave of city-level agitations, the CJP plans to move its base back to the national capital. A major pan-India student convergence is being planned for June 20. "The proposed gathering at Jantar Mantar will not be a one-day affair. It will be an indefinite, peaceful sit-in until the minister steps down voluntarily or is removed," a senior volunteer associated with the campaign stated.

Deep-seated anger over exam leaks

The current friction stems from the June 6 Jantar Mantar mobilisation, which saw thousands of students from various states hitting the streets. The core grievances focus on systemic failures within national-level testing bodies. Repeated disruptions, sudden cancellations, and leaks have derailed academic calendars and left millions of aspirants stranded, severely denting public faith in the country's central educational apparatus.

Digital momentum vs ground reality

Despite garnering massive traction online—including an online petition on the party's website that secured over 800,000 signatures in days—the CJP faces distinct organizational challenges on the ground. Observers note that while the party possesses over 22 million Instagram followers, translating digital outrage into physical booth-level political capital remains a hurdle.

Unlike the structured 2011 India Against Corruption movement, the CJP currently lacks an established pan-India cadre network. Furthermore, the party's platform has expanded rapidly to include disparate issues like infrastructure, taxation, and regional crises, which critics argue might dilute its core focus on educational reform.

Genesis of the unique nomenclature

The unusual name of the party traces back to May 15, following controversial remarks attributed to a judicial bench. During a legal hearing, observations comparing certain vocal, unemployed youth to "cockroaches" and "parasites" attacking the system sparked widespread online outrage.

Responding to the remarks, digital activist Abhijeet Dipke launched the 'Cockroach Janta Party' from the US on May 16 via social media platforms. What began as a symbolic, satirical protest has rapidly morphed into a coordinated pressure group capable of organizing coordinated on-ground rallies across multiple Indian states.

Student-led movement expands to Pune and six other cities; indefinite sit-in threatened if Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan does not step down

The Cockroach Janta Party, the student-driven political outfit that emerged from a controversial remark by Chief Justice Suryakant, has kicked off a fresh round of nationwide demonstrations beginning Wednesday in Pune, with organisers warning of an indefinite sit-in at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi if Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan does not resign by June 20.

From Pune to Hyderabad

Wednesday's protest in Pune marks the opening salvo of what CJP has described as a multi-city mobilisation drive. From Pune, the demonstrations are set to roll out across Lucknow, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Jaipur, and Hyderabad in the days ahead. The party has called on students, parents, teachers, and ordinary citizens to participate, framing the protests as a collective push for transparency and accountability in India's examination and education systems.

Environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk is expected to join the Pune demonstration, a development that is likely to draw additional attention to the movement.

June 20 Deadline and Sit-In Threat

CJP has set a clear ultimatum. If the Education Minister neither resigns voluntarily nor is removed by the government before June 20, the party says students from across the country will converge at Jantar Mantar for a peaceful but indefinite sit-in. The June 6 rally at the same venue had already drawn a large turnout, with participants from multiple states voicing anger over alleged paper leaks, examination irregularities, technical glitches, and administrative failures in national-level recruitment and entrance tests.

A Movement Born from a Courtroom Remark

The CJP's origin is unusual, even by Indian political standards. During a May 15 hearing, Chief Justice Suryakant — sitting alongside Justice Joymalya Bagchi — reportedly referred to unemployed youth as "cockroaches," suggesting that such individuals go on to become media figures, social media activists, or RTI applicants who then "attack the system." The bench also used the word "parasites" in the same context.

The remarks triggered swift backlash. Within 24 hours, on May 16, Abhijeet Dipke — based in the United States — launched the Cockroach Janata Party on X and Instagram. By May 22, an online petition demanding Pradhan's resignation had gone live on the party's website and ultimately crossed 800,000 signatures.

Challenges Ahead for the Movement

Despite the momentum, analysts and observers have flagged several structural weaknesses. The turnout at the June 6 Jantar Mantar rally, while notable, was modest compared to the party's 22 million Instagram followers — pointing to a recurring challenge in Indian protest politics: converting online energy into on-ground participation.

The movement also lacks the kind of multi-organisational backing that powered the 2011 Anna Hazare agitation. That movement had the Lokpal Bill as a singular, unambiguous demand. CJP's platform, by contrast, has expanded to cover a broad sweep of grievances — from Manipur and water shortages to taxation and corruption — which could dilute its focus and make it harder to build a unified support base beyond social media.

The party has no established presence at the booth or district level, and its leadership has limited political experience. Whether CJP can translate its viral appeal into sustained street-level pressure — and eventually, electoral relevance — remains an open question.

What Comes Next

For now, the movement's immediate test is whether the June 11 protests in Pune generate the kind of visible turnout that forces a response from New Delhi. The June 20 deadline adds urgency to that question. With Sonam Wangchuk's expected presence in Pune and cities across India scheduled for demonstrations in the coming days, CJP is clearly working to build a credible show of scale before its self-imposed ultimatum runs out.

Renowned climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has officially thrown his weight behind the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), setting a strict deadline for the central government. In a video message released on social media platform X, Wangchuk announced that he will join the group’s scheduled protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on June 6 if Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan does not step down by June 5 over ongoing student grievances and paper leak scandals.

Activist extends support to CJP

The unexpected alignment between the Ladakh-based reformer and the rapidly growing youth pressure group has injected major momentum into the upcoming demonstration. In his video statement, Wangchuk detailed his recent discussion with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, stating that he found the platform’s intentions to be deeply patriotic and driven by a genuine demand for structural change.

"I spoke to CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke. After talking to him, I felt his intentions are not wrong. He is a patriot and wants change," Wangchuk said, emphasizing that the ongoing issues within the national education system require immediate institutional accountability.

Rising pressure on education ministry

The core demand of the protest centers around the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The CJP, alongside various student bodies, has been calling for systemic accountability following the recent National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak controversy, which affected millions of medical aspirants nationwide.

Activists claim that the government's response—limited primarily to administrative transfers rather than structural changes—fails to address the emotional and financial strain inflicted on students. Wangchuk’s entry into the fray transitions the movement from an online youth campaign into a broader, more formidable civil society challenge for the administration.

Dipke to fly into capital

Meanwhile, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke is scheduled to return to India from the United States on June 6. Dipke, who had been coordinating the movement digitally while pursuing his higher education abroad, announced that his first point of action upon landing in New Delhi will be seeking official validation for the gathering.

Sources familiar with the matter said that Dipke plans to head directly from the international airport to the Parliament Street Police Station to seek necessary law-and-order permissions for the Jantar Mantar sit-in. He has also publicly appealed to supporters and Delhi residents to meet him at the airport and accompany him in solidarity.

Satirical roots to physical ground reality

The Cockroach Janta Party emerged less than a month ago as a satirical digital movement. It was created in reaction to perceived dismissive comments from higher authorities regarding India's unemployed youth. Thirty-year-old Dipke, a digital media strategist from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar who formerly worked with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during its 2020 Delhi assembly campaign, successfully channeled online youth frustration into a massive social media phenomenon.

While initially dismissed by critics as a hyper-ironic "meme party," the CJP's transition to physical, ground-level mobilization in the national capital has caught political observers off guard.

Apex court maintains distance

The movement’s sudden rise has not been without legal and political pushback. On May 24, the Supreme Court of India declined to entertain an urgent hearing on a petition that sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the operations and funding of individuals associated with the Cockroach Janta Party.

Advocate N K Goswami, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the group’s satirical nature and rapid online growth were tarnishing the image of public institutions, including the judiciary. However, a bench comprising the apex court judges dismissed the urgency, advising the petitioner not to take the satirical movement "so emotionally," thereby clearing the legal decks for the group's current activities.

Security beefed up around Jantar Mantar

Local authorities in New Delhi are reportedly monitoring the situation ahead of June 6. With both a high-profile activist like Sonam Wangchuk and a massive online student base threatening to converge on Jantar Mantar, police presence and barricading are expected to be stepped up around the Parliament Street area.

Central intelligence and local police wings are assessing potential crowd numbers, given the Cockroach Janta Party’s millions of digital followers, as the national capital braces for a highly unconventional showdown over educational accountability.

A high-level meeting to discuss the ongoing NEET controversy convened at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s official residence on Thursday evening. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh, and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office attended the deliberations.

The meeting comes amid continued fallout from the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2025 examination following serious paper leak allegations.

Crisis Management Underway

Sources familiar with the matter said the discussion focused on restoring confidence in the medical entrance examination process and reviewing the steps taken so far by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and investigating agencies. The government is understood to be looking at tighter protocols for future examinations while addressing immediate concerns of students and parents.

This is the latest in a series of high-level reviews since the controversy erupted.

NTA Extends Refund Deadline

In a related development, the NTA extended the deadline for candidates to submit bank account details for fee refunds till 11:50 pm on June 22. The previous deadline was May 27. 

Candidates who appeared for the cancelled examination can log into the official NTA portal using their credentials and update their banking information for the refund process. Officials said the extension was provided to accommodate students facing technical or logistical difficulties.

Timeline of the NEET Row

The NEET-UG exam was conducted on May 3 across 551 cities in India and 14 international centres, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing for it. Irregularities came to light on the evening of May 7, prompting the matter to be handed over to central agencies. The examination was formally cancelled on May 12.

The decision to scrap the test was taken to ensure fairness, though it triggered widespread anxiety among aspirants, many of whom had prepared for years.

Rahul Gandhi Meets Family of Deceased Aspirant

On Wednesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met the family of Pradeep Meghwal, a NEET aspirant from Rajasthan who died by suicide following the paper leak reports. Gandhi held the central government responsible for the tragedy and described it as a failure of the system.

In a post on X, the former Congress president said the death was “not just a suicide but the result of a broken and corrupt system.” He held the “Modi-Pradhan duo” accountable. 

CBI Makes Fresh Arrests

Meanwhile, the investigation into the leak case is progressing. On Wednesday, Rouse Avenue Court remanded two accused — Dr Manoj Shirure and Tejas Harshad Kumar Shah — in CBI custody till June 1. Two others, Prahlad Kulkarni and Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, were sent to judicial custody till June 10. 

The CBI has conducted searches at 49 locations so far and arrested 13 people in connection with the case. Several documents, laptops, and mobile phones have been seized.

Students Await Clarity

The developments have left lakhs of students and their families worried about the future schedule of the re-examination. Many aspirants have demanded a swift and transparent process for the next test, along with stronger safeguards against leaks.

Education authorities have maintained that the integrity of the examination will be upheld at all costs. The NTA is expected to announce fresh dates soon after internal reviews and consultations.

The high-level meeting at Rajnath Singh’s residence signals the government’s urgency to contain the damage and prevent long-term erosion of trust in the country’s competitive examination system. With multiple competitive exams lined up in the coming months, the outcome of these deliberations will be closely watched by students across India.

CBSE Re-Evaluation Deadline Ends Amid Portal Failures and Login Issues

Thousands of students attempting to apply for scanned copies of CBSE answer sheets continued to face difficulties on Saturday as the Board’s portal remained largely inaccessible on the final day of the application process. The Central Board of Secondary Education had earlier extended the deadline from May 23 to May 24 after repeated complaints of server crashes and failed payments.

By late evening, many users were still seeing the message “Site Under Maintenance” while trying to access the portal. Students across different states reported that pages failed to load properly even after multiple refresh attempts.

Applications Surge Rapidly

According to Board officials, the response this year has been unusually high. More than 1.26 lakh applications were reportedly submitted within the first three hours after the process opened on May 19.

This is being seen as one of the highest-ever participation rates in the CBSE re-evaluation and scanned answer sheet process. Sources familiar with the matter said over 7% of candidates appearing in the examination sought either re-evaluation or photocopies of answer sheets, significantly higher than the usual 2–3% seen in previous years.

Around 17.68 lakh students appeared for the CBSE examinations this year.

Website Remains Unstable

Students and parents continued to complain about severe technical issues throughout the week. Several users said the website either crashed midway or showed “service unavailable” errors repeatedly.

According to students who spoke on social media platforms, even when the portal opened briefly, every step required repeated refreshing. Some users claimed the system became functional only during early morning hours.

Many applicants also said they completed payments days ago but had still not received scanned copies or confirmation messages from CBSE.

Payment Errors Trigger Confusion

One of the biggest concerns involved payment-related glitches. While the official fee for obtaining a photocopy of one subject answer sheet is ₹100, several students reported abnormal fee displays ranging from thousands to lakhs of rupees.

Screenshots shared online showed unexpected payment amounts appearing during checkout. In other cases, students claimed that smaller amounts were processed while standard payments repeatedly failed.

Some applicants also received conflicting notifications. According to reports, students who were informed around midday that their applications had been submitted successfully later received refund messages stating the applications had not gone through.

Minister Seeks Report

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has reportedly sought a detailed explanation regarding the technical breakdowns affecting the CBSE portal.

Officials said the issues under review include server downtime, payment failures, registration errors and complaints regarding blurred or incomplete scanned answer sheets. CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh also indicated that there had been attempts to interfere with the website without authorisation.

The Board has not yet announced whether another extension will be granted.

Login And Registration Problems

Apart from payment issues, students faced repeated login and registration failures. Many reported receiving “invalid ID” messages despite completing registration successfully.

In several cases, users attempting fresh registrations were informed that their accounts already existed in the system. Students also claimed the portal functioned intermittently on mobile devices but often failed entirely on desktop browsers.

Meanwhile, CBSE helpline numbers reportedly remained difficult to access, with many callers receiving no response.

Fake Circular Sparks Panic

Amid the confusion, a fake circular claiming cancellation of the 2026 re-evaluation process circulated widely on social media platforms.

The viral document falsely stated that CBSE had cancelled the process due to technical difficulties and would refund fees within 15 working days while treating existing marks as final.

CBSE later clarified online that the circular was fake and urged students not to rely on unofficial information.

Errors In Uploaded Answer Sheets

Students have also flagged discrepancies in scanned answer sheets already released by the Board. In one reported case from Madhya Pradesh, pages from a Business Studies answer booklet were allegedly missing, while some pages appeared duplicated in the uploaded PDF.

According to initial reports, marks for certain answers were not awarded because the relevant pages were absent from the scanned copy. Such complaints have added to concerns among students awaiting re-evaluation before further admission processes begin.

With the CBSE re-evaluation deadline closing amid continuing technical problems, many students are now waiting for clarification on whether the Board will reopen the portal or provide additional relief measures.

Satire platform Cockroach Janata Party alleges targeted crackdown as digital handles face disruptions amid massive growth

In a swift escalation of a bizarre digital standoff, the official website of the newly formed 'Cockroach Janata Party' (CJP) went completely down on Saturday morning. The platform, which originated as a satirical response to a senior judicial remark, became inaccessible around 9:00 AM, displaying a standard “site can’t be reached” error message.

The digital blackout follows closely on the heels of a massive online campaign launched by the group demanding the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the recent NEET exam paper leak controversy.

Digital platforms go dark

CJP founder Abhijit Dipke took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm the development, directly accusing the central establishment of heavy-handedness. Dipke revealed that the platform had amassed significant traction before going offline, claiming that nearly 10 lakh users had registered as members on the site.

"Over 6 lakh people had already signed our online petition demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan," Dipke stated in an online broadcast. "Why is the government so incredibly scared of cockroaches? They can take down our web servers, but cockroaches never die."

The website outage was not the only disruption reported by the group. Earlier in the day, at around 8:25 AM, the party handles claimed their official Instagram account had been compromised and rendered inaccessible to administrators, though the public profile page remained visibly online.

Exponential social media surge

Despite the technical roadblocks, the group's digital footprint has exploded over the last 48 hours. By Saturday afternoon, the Cockroach Janata Party's Instagram following skyrocketed to over 2.2 crore users. Simultaneously, their primary communication channel on X crossed the 200,000-follower milestone.

The sudden surge in popularity has altered the ground reality for Dipke's family, residing in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Speaking to a regional Marathi news channel, Dipke’s parents expressed profound anxiety regarding their son's sudden political visibility and the looming threat of legal action.

"It is completely natural for us to feel terrified looking at the current atmosphere in the country," his father, Bhagwan Dipke, told reporters, adding that the family has spent sleepless nights worrying about potential arrest warrants. His mother, Anita, noted that they only learned of the digital movement through neighbors and preferred that their son focus on his professional career.

Allegations of foreign footprints

As the digital movement gained momentum, critics alleged that the massive follower base was artificial, claiming that only 9 percent of the interaction originated from within India, with the bulk coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Western nations.

The CJP leadership vehemently rejected these claims on Friday night, releasing internal analytics screenshots indicating that 96 percent of their actual target audience is base-located right inside India. The group has also had to navigate the permanent suspension of its original X account earlier this week, forcing them to operate under a backup page titled "Cockroach Is Back."

Roots in judicial commentary

The unusual political front traces its origin back to mid-May. During a courtroom hearing, remarks were reportedly passed comparing hyper-active, unemployed youth on social media to "cockroaches" who constantly critique state institutions.

While the judiciary later clarified that the statement was contextually misrepresented, Dipke capitalised on the phrase the very next day, launching the Cockroach Janata Party as a formal digital initiative representing the "lazy, unemployed, and chronically online" demographic.

Former AAP strategist at helm

The standard of execution behind the viral campaign stems from professional experience. Dipke, 30, is a seasoned digital media strategist who previously managed viral meme-based campaign content for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) between 2020 and 2022, notably during the Delhi Assembly elections.

Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Relations at Boston University in the United States, Dipke has been running the digital operation from abroad. Meanwhile, the domestic popularity of the name has triggered a corporate rush on the ground, with three separate commercial trademark applications already filed with the Trademark Registry portal to secure rights over the "Cockroach Janata Party" brand name for political and social services. Legal representatives for the group state they are exploring alternative web hosting options to restore the main campaign portal by Sunday evening.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate courses (NEET-UG) will be conducted in online mode from the next academic session, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Friday while confirming that the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper had been leaked. The announcement came days after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the May 3 examination amid allegations of question paper leaks and irregularities across multiple states. The issue has emerged as one of the biggest India News Update developments in the education sector this year.

Addressing the media, Pradhan said the government took the difficult decision to cancel the examination to ensure fairness in the medical admission process.  He stated that authorities did not want any undeserving candidate to benefit from the irregularities and therefore decided to conduct the examination again. According to the Education Minister, the re-examination will now be held on June 21 and candidates will receive 15 minutes of additional time during the test.

He also announced that students appearing in the re-exam would be allowed to choose examination centres of their preference. The NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3 was conducted across 551 cities in India and 14 international cities through more than 5,400 examination centres. Pradhan said the irregularities came to light on May 7 after the NTA informed the government about suspected breaches in the examination process. The decision to cancel the exam was subsequently taken on May 12.

The minister further said the government would coordinate with state governments to facilitate transportation and logistical arrangements for students appearing in the re-examination. Referring to the controversy, Pradhan questioned how such a breach could occur despite recommendations made by reform committees and safeguards already in place.

He said the government machinery would now ensure that the re-examination takes place without any irregularities. The announcement regarding the shift to online mode from next year is being viewed as a major structural reform aimed at reducing the risk of future paper leaks and improving examination security. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its probe into the alleged paper leak network.

So far, the agency has arrested seven people in connection with the case. Among them are accused from Rajasthan, Haryana and Maharashtra. Five accused — Mangi Lal Binwal, Dinesh Binwal, Vikas Binwal, Yash Yadav and Shubham Khairnar — were recently produced before Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court. The court sent them to seven days’ custody for further interrogation.

Earlier, the CBI had also arrested beautician Manisha Waghmare from Pune and Dhananjay Lokhande from Nashik. Investigators suspect that the leaked question paper was circulated through a network operating across coaching centres and intermediaries. According to sources associated with the probe, accused Yash Yadav allegedly played a key role in transporting the leaked paper to Rajasthan’s Sikar district.

The investigation reportedly revealed that students were charged between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5 lakh for access to the question paper before the examination. Officials said one of the accused allegedly scanned a hard copy of the question paper and converted it into a PDF file for circulation. The leaked material was reportedly handwritten before being digitally scanned and distributed among students associated with coaching institutes.

Investigators also found that many questions in the so-called “guess paper” matched the actual examination paper. According to officials, nearly 150 out of 180 questions were allegedly identical to those that appeared in the final NEET-UG paper.

The controversy has once again raised serious concerns regarding the functioning and credibility of the National Testing Agency. The NTA, established in 2017 under the Ministry of Education, conducts several major national-level entrance examinations including NEET-UG, JEE Main, CUET and UGC-NET.

NEET remains India’s largest medical entrance examination and serves as the gateway for admission into MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and nursing programmes across government and private institutions. More than one lakh MBBS seats and over 27,000 BDS seats are filled through the examination every year.

The latest controversy has also revived memories of the 2024 NEET paper leak case, which had similarly triggered investigations and legal challenges. Education experts believe the government’s decision to shift NEET to an online format marks a major policy change aimed at restoring trust in the examination system.

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NTA Announces NEET UG 2026 Re-Exam Date Following Cancellation

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has scheduled the NEET UG 2026 re-examination for June 21 after the initial May test was scrapped.

In a significant move to restore the integrity of medical entrance evaluations, the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Friday officially announced that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2026 will be re-conducted on June 21, 2026. The decision follows the dramatic cancellation of the May 3 exam earlier this week amid widespread allegations of paper leaks and institutional irregularities.

The re-exam will be held across the country on a Sunday, aiming to accommodate the over 22 lakh aspirants who find themselves back at the starting line.

High-level meeting precedes announcement

The announcement comes less than 24 hours after a high-stakes review meeting held at the residence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the NTA reportedly deliberated late into Thursday night to finalize a timeline that would minimize the delay in the academic calendar while ensuring foolproof security measures.

The NTA took to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday morning to confirm the schedule. "The National Testing Agency, with approval from the Government of India, has scheduled the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination for Sunday, June 21, 2026," the post read. The agency further urged students and parents to rely strictly on official channels for updates to avoid misinformation.

CBI intensifies paper leak probe

As the NTA prepares for the logistical challenge of a nationwide re-test, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has significantly ramped up its crackdown on the alleged "paper leak mafia." On Thursday, the agency detained five individuals and formally arrested two more suspects believed to be the kingpins of the operation.

Sources close to the investigation indicate that the CBI is now scrutinizing the internal processes of the NTA. Investigators are looking into whether any insiders facilitated the breach or if the leak occurred during the transportation of sensitive materials to exam centers.

Logistical hurdles for 22 lakh students

The cancellation has left over 2.2 million medical aspirants in a state of flux. While some welcome the chance for a fair trial, many are reeling from the mental exhaustion of preparing for one of India's toughest competitive exams twice in two months.

"It's a double-edged sword," said an aspirant from New Delhi. "We are glad the cheaters are being caught, but the heat of June and the pressure of doing it all over again is daunting."

Education experts suggest that the June 21 date provides just enough time for the NTA to overhaul its digital security and set a fresh paper, though it will likely push back the subsequent counseling and admission sessions by several weeks.

Tightened security for June 21

To prevent a repeat of the May 3 debacle, the Education Ministry is expected to implement "multi-layered" security protocols for the re-exam. This may include biometric enhancements at centers and a change in the distribution chain of physical question papers.

The NTA has advised candidates to keep a close watch on the official portal for the release of fresh admit cards and specific guidelines regarding the NEET UG 2026 Re-Exam Date.

Spain-India Dual Year 2026: Education Minister Woos Spanish Universities

Dharmendra Pradhan invites campuses, stresses AI must bolster human creativity at New Delhi conference closing

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday wrapped up the India-Spain Conference on Higher Education here, pitching India as a prime spot for Spanish universities to set up campuses while underlining the need for AI to enhance—not eclipse—human judgment.

The two-day event, held February 19-20 at a time buzzing with the India AI Impact Summit 2026, got a strong push from the Spanish Embassy in India. It marks a key step in celebrations for the Spain-India Dual Year 2026, honouring 70 years of diplomatic ties.

Pradhan's Campus Call

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Pradhan highlighted how India's National Education Policy 2020 paves the way for global tie-ups. "India is open, ready, and welcoming," he said, extending a direct invite to top Spanish universities.

On the sidelines of the AI summit, the minister drove home a clear point: artificial intelligence should amplify human creativity, ethics, and decision-making. Democracies like India and Spain, he added, have a duty to steer responsible innovation.

From Talks to Action

Pradhan called the conference a shift "from dialogue to delivery." The knowledge bridges being built, he noted, will empower tomorrow's youth. Over 30 Spanish rectors and senior leaders from the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE), plus representatives from about 70 Indian institutions, joined in.

Dr Vineet Joshi, Secretary in the Higher Education Ministry, described the gathering as timely for bilateral ties. "Deliberations were focused and forward-looking," he said, pointing to education's role in innovation, growth, jobs, tech progress, and people-to-people links.

Spain's Enthused Response

Spanish Ambassador to India Juan Antonio March Pujol welcomed Pradhan's presence. "Knowledge fortifies societies and shapes generations," he remarked, stressing universities' centrality.

The ambassador outlined plans for joint research, student and faculty exchanges, and startup support. He hoped collaborations would gain steam through 2026, possibly with a follow-up in Spain and fresh MoUs. Pujol recalled PM Narendra Modi's assurance to Spain's leadership: academic partnerships are a top priority, with full facilities for campuses.

Prof Eva Alcón, CRUE President, reaffirmed Spain's commitment alongside its government. She saw the summit as the start of a lasting bond, eyeing work on fair education access, sustainability, global health—blending local needs with worldwide goals.

Ties in Broader Context

This conference slots into ramped-up India-Spain engagement. Diplomatic relations hit 70 years in 2026, with youth exchanges, research, and education at the core. Initial reports suggest strong momentum, especially after Modi's personal push.

For Indian students and institutions, Spanish campuses could mean more options without crossing borders—boosting skills in fields like AI and sustainability. Ground buzz from participants hinted at quick wins, like pilot exchange programs.

Spain-India Dual Year 2026 now eyes deeper university pacts. Officials hint at more summits ahead, with MoUs possibly inked soon. As Pradhan put it, these steps build youth confidence for a shared future.

The Education Minister on Friday called on institutions to “exit the Macaulay doctrine” and align higher education with the vision of Viksit Bharat, and announced the conversion of SRCC’s Post Graduate Diploma in Global Business Operations (PGDGBO) into a full-fledged Master’s degree programme.

He made these remarks while inaugurating Yugantar ’26, the Annual Management Conclave of SRCC’s Post Graduate Diploma in Global Business Operations (PGDGBO), themed “AI for Sustainability & Startup Innovation.”

The inaugural session at the Shridhar Shriram Auditorium was graced by Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education, Government of India, as the Distinguished Chief Guest. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. Yogesh Singh, Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi, and hosted by Prof. Simrit Kaur, Principal, SRCC. Senior faculty members, industry leaders, alumni, and students attended the event, along with Dr. Misha Govil, GBO Coordinator, SRCC; Dr. Sapna Bansal, Convener, Yugantar 2026; and Dr. Sunita Sharma, Co-Convener, Yugantar 2026.

The programme opened with a tribute to Sir Shri Ram, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.

 “We Must Not Be Afraid to Accept Change” 

In his keynote address, the Education Minister described the National Education Policy (NEP) as a structural reset of India’s academic framework.

“We have to get out of the Macaulay doctrine that enslaved India academically. The National Education Policy, envisioned by Prime Minister Modi ji, will ensure that Bharat becomes a Vishwa Guru. Institutions like SRCC must lead this transformation. SRCC is sowing the seeds to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat.”

He emphasised technological sovereignty and institutional reform: “In this age of technology, the nature of competition has fundamentally changed. We know that change is needed — but we must not be afraid to accept it. India must move toward sovereign AI ecosystems, strengthening institutions like IIT Madras and IIT Bombay, and building indigenous capabilities so that Bharat becomes a leader in Artificial Intelligence.”

He urged higher education institutions to embed research, patents, startup incubation, and AI-led innovation into their academic structures.

 PGDGBO to Be Upgraded into Master’s Degree Programme 

The Education Minister announced that SRCC’s two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Global Business Operations (PGDGBO), offered by Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, will be converted into a full-fledged Master’s degree programme.

The transition is expected to strengthen academic recognition, align the programme with National Education Policy reforms, and enhance its global academic equivalence while integrating greater research and innovation components.

Universities Must Build Market-Ready Innovation 

Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh said universities must convert research into commercially viable outcomes.

“Only three words can safeguard the future of young minds — innovation, creativity, and originality. Universities must go beyond publications; we must develop patents, prototypes, and commercially sustainable products.”

He cautioned institutions against resisting technological shifts and called for stronger university–industry collaboration.

AI Must Be Ethical and Inclusive 

Principal Simrit Kaur said institutions must guide artificial intelligence with responsibility and human judgment.

“Artificial Intelligence has the capacity to shift both demand and supply curves, improving productivity and efficiency. But without the intelligence of humans, there is no optimal solution. AI must be coordinated with humanity and adopted responsibly.”

She added, “We are committed to viewing Artificial Intelligence as our destiny — ensuring that its growth remains inclusive, accountable, and sustainable.”

Day 1 of Yugantar ’26 featured corporate panels on AI-enabled sustainability, founder sessions on startup scaling, and case simulations across finance, marketing, analytics, HR, and international business.

The Education Minister also visited the Viksit Bharat Startup Expo 2026, where student-led ventures showcased innovation prototypes.

With the announcement of the Master’s degree upgrade for SRCC GBO and a push toward NEP-led reform and sovereign AI capabilities, Yugantar ’26 positioned SRCC within the broader roadmap toward Viksit Bharat 2047.