The fallout from the NEET paper leak continues to reshape India's examination system. In a major move, Maharashtra has established 23 special fast-track courts to hear 203 pending examination malpractice cases, including paper leaks, recruitment exam fraud, HSC cheating, and other examination-related offenses.

The decision follows widespread public outrage over the NEET paper leak controversy, which triggered nationwide student protests and renewed calls for stronger action against exam fraud.

The Bombay High Court has directed the newly constituted courts to make every effort to complete trials within three months of the filing of charge sheets, aiming to ensure faster justice.

NEET Paper Leak Crackdown | Maharashtra Launches 23 Fast-Track Courts For Exam Fraud Cases

The fallout from the NEET paper leak controversy continues to reshape India's examination system, with Maharashtra establishing 23 special fast-track courts to handle 203 pending exam malpractice cases.

The newly created courts will hear cases involving paper leaks, recruitment examination fraud, HSC examination cheating, and other forms of examination malpractice. The move follows widespread outrage over the NEET paper leak and aims to ensure faster justice in cases affecting millions of students.

The Bombay High Court has directed the special courts to make every effort to complete trials within three months of filing the chargesheet, significantly accelerating the judicial process.

The development comes after the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 received Presidential assent. The amended law introduces stricter punishments, including five to ten years of imprisonment and fines of up to ₹50 lakh for those using unfair means. For service providers involved in examination fraud, the maximum fine has been increased from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore, while the debarment period has been doubled from four years to eight years.

NEET Paper Leak Fallout | Maharashtra Sets Up 23 Fast-Track Courts To Hear 203 Exam Fraud Cases

The Monsoon Session of Parliament witnessed another heated confrontation as the government and the opposition clashed over the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill.

The proposed legislation aims to strengthen India's anti-paper leak law through stricter punishments, faster investigations, and expedited trials. However, the opposition argued that tougher laws alone cannot restore confidence in the examination system without fixing administrative failures.

Parliament Erupts Over Anti-Paper Leak Bill | Opposition Targets Government on Student Protests

Here are the top stories making headlines from India and around the world.

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran of a strong response after attacks targeting American military assets in the region. Meanwhile, Iraq has condemned US-Saudi strikes targeting the Popular Mobilization Forces, an armed alliance that includes powerful pro-Iran factions. In India, Parliament has passed a new anti-paper leak law amid a heated political battle. The bill was cleared after a stormy debate following Rahul Gandhi's allegations over police action during student protests and the government's response. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she remains determined to return to the country by December despite concerns over her safety.
Japan is dealing with the aftermath of a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake, while a shopping mall operator apologised after an explosion at a Kumamoto shopping centre. Thousands of people evacuated due to wildfires in Spain are returning home, while French firefighters prepare for worsening fire conditions.


US vs Iran Escalation | Japan Quake | Paper Leak Bill Passed | Iraq Condemns US-Saudi Strikes

A heated debate over the Anti-Paper Leak Bill triggered massive disruptions in the Lok Sabha as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched sharp attacks on the RSS and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. His remarks sparked strong objections from the Treasury benches, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju demanding that Rahul Gandhi either substantiate his allegations or apologize.

The debate quickly escalated into repeated protests and adjournments as opposition and ruling alliance MPs clashed over the education system, student protests, and the government's handling of examination reforms. The Opposition also continued to demand the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi vs BJP in Parliament | Anti-Paper Leak Bill Debate Sparks Massive Uproar | Amit Shah

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has officially assumed charge of the Ministry of Education following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. The appointment comes after weeks of nationwide student protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and examination irregularities. Joshi will continue to hold his existing portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy, in addition to the Education Ministry. Speaking after taking charge, he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for placing his trust in him and pledged to discharge his new responsibilities with dedication, humility and honesty.

Pralhad Joshi takes charge of Education Ministry after Dharmendra Pradhan resigns | NEET Protest 

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has proposed a major electoral reform by seeking to lower the minimum age for contesting Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections from 25 years to 21 years. The Chief Minister has also proposed reducing the eligibility age for contesting Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections from 30 years to 25 years. Telangana is expected to convene a special Assembly session in early August to pass a resolution urging the Centre to amend the relevant laws. Linking the proposal to the recent NEET paper leak protests, Revanth Reddy said India's youth deserve greater representation in politics and governance. He questioned why 21-year-olds, who are eligible to become IAS, IPS, and IFS officers and contest local body elections, cannot contest parliamentary or assembly elections.

Telangana CM Proposes Lowering Election Contest Age to 21 | Gen Z in Politics?

Bangladesh is entering another major political transition as President Mohammad Shahabuddin prepares to resign before completing his five-year term. According to official sources, Shahabuddin's resignation comes amid increasing political pressure linked to his long association with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose Awami League government was removed during the 2024 student-led uprising. The move also comes as Sheikh Hasina has announced plans to return to Bangladesh later this year after being convicted by the country's war crimes tribunal—a verdict she strongly denies.

Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin resigns | political shake-up ahead of Hasina's return

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said authorities “must break the back of the seditionists” and blamed US President Donald Trump for “casualties” after the Islamic Republic’s bloody crackdown on a protest wave against the country’s clerical authorities.


Iran Unrest: Khamenei Accuses Trump of Backing Protests 

Iranian authorities say a government building was attacked in the southern city of Fasa amid a wave of protests driven by mounting economic pressure, while officials insist the unrest remains limited and under control.

Iran Appoints New Central Bank Governor | Provincial Governor's Office Vandalised 

Iran Protests: Students Join In, As Provincial Governor's Office Vandalised

Several thousand activists from across Serbia joined student protests in the country's southwest on Sunday, rallying against what they describe as government pressure on state universities.
The demonstration, part of a wider movement confronting political interference in higher education, was the first of its kind in Novi Pazar, a town with a majority Bosniak Muslim population.

Serbia Campus Row Deepens: Major Student Protest Held in Novi Pazar

#Gravitas | Bangladesh is facing unprecedented chaos following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. Former ministers are being arrested, political leaders are fleeing, and violence is sweeping across the nation. Factories are burning, lives are being lost, and the future of the country hangs in the balance. The arrests of key Awami League leaders and the challenges facing the new interim government beg the question. What does this chaos mean for the people of Bangladesh? Where does the country go from here?

Bangladesh's Revenge Chaos: Violent Attacks on Awami League Leaders After Sheikh Hasina's Fall

In Bangladesh, the situation is gradually returning to normal sea after continued civil unrest for more than a month. Protesting police officers called off their strike after the interim government assured them of meeting most of their demands. Watch in for more details!

Bangladesh unrest: Bangladeshis trying to seek refuge in India amid unrest

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday and fled the country, multiple sources said, as more people were killed in some of the worst violence since the birth of the South Asian nation more than five decades ago.

Bangladesh Protests | How Bangladesh student protests ousted PM Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh Protests: Army Chief confirms PM Hasina's resignation, says will help form interim govt

Columbia University student protestors claimed to have taken over Hamilton Hall on Tuesday (April 30) after the university started suspending students who refused to leave a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus.

Columbia University student protestors claimed to have taken over Hamilton Hall on Tuesday (April 30) after the university started suspending students who refused to leave a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus. The university administration had previously declared that the protest campsite must be evacuated by 2:00 p.m. (1800 GMT) or students may face disciplinary punishment. According to an Instagram post by student groups, protestors have "taken matters into their own hands," and they intend to remain until Columbia divests financially from Israel. A video posted by the student protestors shows rows of students approaching the building with barricades. The demonstrators claimed that a "autonomous group" had taken over the building, which houses the classics, Germanic, and Slavic language departments, and renamed it "Hind Hall" in honor of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old who was killed in Gaza this year while calling for help. Also read: Columbia University suspends student protesters for defiance of ultimatum to disperse "Students have taken over Hamilton Hall. This escalation is in line with uprisings in 1968, 1985 and 1996, which Columbia repressed then and celebrates today. All power to students putting their bodies and livelihoods on the line to stand against genocide," Palestinian Youth Movement wrote on X. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: Students have taken over Hamilton Hall. This escalation is in line with uprisings in 1968, 1985 and 1996, which Columbia repressed then and celebrates today. All power to students putting their bodies and livelihoods on the line to stand against genocide. pic.twitter.com/YstaG9l9iZ — Palestinian Youth Movement (@palyouthmvmt) April 30, 2024 × The students said that their takeover of the building represented the “next generation” of Columbia University student movements and that they would not leave until the school granted their requests for, “divestment, financial transparency, and amnesty.” While the exact number of student demonstrators inside the building is unknown, the Columbia Spectator, the university's student newspaper, reported that dozens of protestors are inside the building. White House condemns Meanwhile, the Biden White House has condemned this move by students. “The president believes that forcibly taking over a building on campus is absolutely the wrong approach. That is not an example of peaceful protest,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said during a press briefing. “Hate speech and hate symbols have no place in this country,” Kirby added. What is the significance of Hamilton Hall? The 118-year-old Hamilton Hall has been the focal point of campus demonstrations since the 1960s.Amid protests against racism, the Vietnam War, and the university's intended expansion into Morningside Park, activists took control of it in 1968.

Columbia student protesters seize university building, White House condemns move

Students in Sri Lanka are marching on the outskirts of the capital Colombo. They have been demanding the release of some student activists who were arrested earlier in anti-government protests. Among their demands was the high cost of living. The protesters faced off with the police and then the police used water cannon to disperse the mob. Tear gas shells were also lobbed at the crowd.

Police fire tear gas and water on protestors | Sri Lanka News

Hundreds of university students clash with the police in Sri Lanka's commercial capital Colombo on Friday. Protesters demanded the release of two student leaders from detention.

Hundreds of students hit the streets in Colombo, protesters demand release of student leaders

Dissent against Sri Lankan President is growing as a group of students tried to storm into the Sri Lankan Parliament. The protests were being staged by the inter-university students federation. Police fired tear gas on student protesters.

Sri Lanka crisis & chaos: Police fire tear gas on student protesters

A group of students tried to storm into the Sri Lankan Parliament. The protests were being staged by the inter-university students federation, which is the largest student body in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Crisis & Chaos: University students stage protest near parliament

Dozens of protesters detained on Thursday after Turkey brushed aside the US criticism of Ankara's approach of a crackdown on student demonstrations.&nbsp;

The latest detentions come as Erdogan stresses that he will not let the month-long student protests at Turkish university take the shape of anti-government protests in 2013, describing the demonstrators as "terrorists".

Watch |&nbsp;

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On Thursday, news agency AFP reported that police used riot shields and batons on protesters participating at an unsanctioned event in Istanbul.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-tells-us-not-to-interfere-in-its-internal-matters-361291">Turkey tells US not to interfere in its internal matters</a>

The students are protesting against the government's decision to appoint Erdogan supporter Melih Bulu to head Turkey's prestigious Bogazici University last month.&nbsp;

Bulu's appointment is seen by many as Erdogan's attempt to take control of various institutions across the country.&nbsp;

Over 250 people were detained in Istanbul this week and 69 in Ankara.

More than 500 people have been detained in the past month across the country.&nbsp;

The United States on Wednesday expressed its concern over the detention of students and the use of LGBTQI rhetoric for the protesters.&nbsp;

Ankara responded to the US with the Turkish foreign ministry saying on Thursday that "those who dare to teach a lesson of democracy and law... to look in the mirror".

Turkey's interior minister on Tuesday described the protesters "LGBT deviants" on Twitter, which led to the social media platform put a rare warning on his comment.

The European Union said it was "seriously concerned" by the latest developments in Turkey and called for the release of protesters who are "arbitrarily detained".

Dozens of protesters detained on Thursday after Turkey brushed aside the US criticism of Ankara's approach of a crackdown on student demonstrations. The latest detentions come as Erdogan stresses that he will not let the month-long student protests at Turkish university take the shape of anti-government protests in 2013, describing the demonstrators as "terrorists".

Dozens of protesters detained on Thursday after Turkey brushed aside the US criticism of Ankara's approach of a crackdown on student demonstrations. The latest detentions come as Erdogan stresses that he will not let the month-long student protests at Turkish university take the shape of anti-government protests in 2013, describing the demonstrators as "terrorists". Watch | On Thursday, news agency AFP reported that police used riot shields and batons on protesters participating at an unsanctioned event in Istanbul. Also read | Turkey tells US not to interfere in its internal matters The students are protesting against the government's decision to appoint Erdogan supporter Melih Bulu to head Turkey's prestigious Bogazici University last month. Bulu's appointment is seen by many as Erdogan's attempt to take control of various institutions across the country. Over 250 people were detained in Istanbul this week and 69 in Ankara. More than 500 people have been detained in the past month across the country. The United States on Wednesday expressed its concern over the detention of students and the use of LGBTQI rhetoric for the protesters. Ankara responded to the US with the Turkish foreign ministry saying on Thursday that "those who dare to teach a lesson of democracy and law... to look in the mirror". Turkey's interior minister on Tuesday described the protesters "LGBT deviants" on Twitter, which led to the social media platform put a rare warning on his comment. The European Union said it was "seriously concerned" by the latest developments in Turkey and called for the release of protesters who are "arbitrarily detained".

Turkey continues to detain student protesters despite US condemnation

Turkey rejected USA's criticism over its mass detentions of students. Turkey has been witnessing student protests for about a month. It told Washington to not to interfere in its internal affairs.

Hundreds of students and their supporters were detained this week after police violently cracked down on protests against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's appointment last month of a loyalist as rector of Istanbul's elite Bogazici University.

On Wednesday, Erdogan criticised LGBT movement's role in student rallies and said that some of the student protesters were "terrorists".

The US State Department called Erdogan's "rhetoric" unacceptable, urging Turkey to embrace protests and "even speech that some may find uncomfortable".

The Turkish foreign ministry responded on Thursday by saying it would "advise those who dare to teach a lesson of democracy and law... to look in the mirror".

"No one should dare to interfere in Turkey's domestic affairs," it said in a statement.

But the statement responded only to Washington's criticism of the detentions, without referring to Erdogan's comments about the LGBT movement.

Erdogan on Wednesday said there was "no such thing" as LGBT, adding: "This country is... moral, and it will walk to the future with these values."

(With AFP inputs)

Turkey rejected USA's criticism over its mass detentions of students. Turkey has been witnessing student protests for about a month. It told Washington to not to interfere in its internal affairs.

Turkey rejected USA's criticism over its mass detentions of students. Turkey has been witnessing student protests for about a month. It told Washington to not to interfere in its internal affairs. Hundreds of students and their supporters were detained this week after police violently cracked down on protests against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's appointment last month of a loyalist as rector of Istanbul's elite Bogazici University. On Wednesday, Erdogan criticised LGBT movement's role in student rallies and said that some of the student protesters were "terrorists". The US State Department called Erdogan's "rhetoric" unacceptable, urging Turkey to embrace protests and "even speech that some may find uncomfortable". The Turkish foreign ministry responded on Thursday by saying it would "advise those who dare to teach a lesson of democracy and law... to look in the mirror". "No one should dare to interfere in Turkey's domestic affairs," it said in a statement. But the statement responded only to Washington's criticism of the detentions, without referring to Erdogan's comments about the LGBT movement. Erdogan on Wednesday said there was "no such thing" as LGBT, adding: "This country is... moral, and it will walk to the future with these values." (With AFP inputs)

Turkey tells US not to interfere in its internal matters

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