Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the Centre will unveil a new set of stringent measures to tackle examination paper leaks at the Union Cabinet meeting on Friday. The announcement comes amid intensifying nationwide protests over the NEET controversy and growing demands for accountability in recruitment and entrance examinations. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, "More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow's Cabinet!" The proposed measures are expected to strengthen the government's ongoing crackdown on exam fraud and reinforce efforts to safeguard the integrity of competitive examinations. Friday's Cabinet decisions are likely to outline the Centre's next phase of action against paper leak networks.

Actor Kareena Kapoor has backed nationwide student protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and examination irregularities, saying young voices deserve to be heard. In an Instagram post, she said education gives children confidence and hope, but faith in the system is lost when honesty, hard work and merit appear compromised. Calling students the nation's future, Kareena said they deserve a fair, trustworthy system where effort is rewarded equally. The actor, who said she reflected on the issue before speaking out, stressed that listening to an entire generation demanding accountability is an obligation, not a courtesy. She urged society to stand with students and protect their aspirations.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar has witnessed an unprecedented surge in participation, with protesters saying the turning point was the July 20 police action rather than Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike or CJP leadership. Many students who had only supported the movement online travelled to Delhi after videos of the alleged lathi-charge and tear gas went viral. Protesters say the crackdown transformed frustration over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak into widespread anger, drawing thousands to the capital. The Parliament march on July 20 turned violent, following clashes between protesters and security personnel, further fuelling nationwide outrage and significantly expanding the scale of the agitation. (PC: NY Times)

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar backed students protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak, urging society to uphold honesty and merit over shortcuts. In a social media post, Tendulkar recalled his father, a professor, teaching him that “failure is okay, cheating is not,” stressing that integrity must remain central to education. He said students' disappointment was understandable when hard work goes unrewarded and called on parents, teachers, schools, administrators and society to ensure merit prevails. Emphasising that young Indians' dreams power the nation's future, Tendulkar urged collective efforts to build a culture where honesty is encouraged and hard work is rewarded, expressing confidence that lasting solutions would safeguard students' aspirations. (PC: HT)

Ahmedabad’s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games received a major boost after Commonwealth Sport CEO Katie Sadleir praised the city’s world-class sporting infrastructure. She said Ahmedabad’s modern venues and readiness were key factors in strengthening India’s hosting proposal. Sadleir highlighted the city’s ability to stage a multi-sport event of global scale, reinforcing confidence in its candidature. Her endorsement comes as India pushes to bring the Commonwealth Games back to the country, with Ahmedabad positioned as the proposed host city. The remarks are expected to bolster India’s campaign, showcasing its expanding sports ecosystem and commitment to delivering a successful international sporting event if awarded the 2030 Games. (PC: The Straits Times)

Delhi Police has removed Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba from protest duty at Jantar Mantar after a viral video appeared to show him slapping a woman during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Chalo Sansad’ march. According to reports, he has been reassigned to his original posting in the North East district following a senior-level review, though officials said he was also injured during the clashes. The incident was cited before the Delhi High Court during hearings on alleged police excesses, with the court directing authorities to preserve CCTV footage and related records. Meanwhile, TMC MP Saket Gokhale sought an FIR against Lamba, demanding accountability for alleged police misconduct during the protests.

Spain World Cup hero Ferran Torres, whose decisive goal secured the title, is equally committed to protecting animals and the environment. Inspired by his childhood dog Rex, whose name is tattooed on his arm, Torres has built a life around animal welfare, adopting rescue dogs Minnie and Lluna and creating dedicated spaces for their comfort. Since 2021, he has served as the first Champion Ambassador for the Wild at Heart Foundation, supporting awareness campaigns, fundraising, sterilization projects, responsible adoption, and rehoming initiatives to help an estimated 600 million stray dogs worldwide. Torres also backs the Kick Out Plastic initiative, promoting sustainability while finding balance through nature, hiking, and beach walks wi th his dogs. (PC: Instagram/@ferrantorres)

Author Twinkle Khanna has voiced support for students protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak, saying she is proud of young Indians for having the courage to dissent despite facing tear gas and baton charges. In an Instagram post, she said the saddest part was that students had to endure such circumstances while demanding accountability. Earlier, actor Salman Khan had also backed the protesters, calling the paper leak a serious issue and expressing concern over reports of violence during what he described as a peaceful movement. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court agreed to hear a PIL seeking an NIA probe into the July 20 "Sansad Chalo" protest and related FIRs on Friday. (PC: Tring)

An online petition calling for Argentina to be banned from future FIFA World Cups has collected more than 23 million signatures, falling just short of the Guinness World Record for the world's most-signed petition. Titled "Argentina Out", the campaign gained momentum after controversy surrounding Argentina's run to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, including allegations of refereeing bias and heated on-field incidents. According to reports, the petition attracted 23,316,108 signatures from around 170 countries before closing. Argentina lost the final 1-0 to Spain, and organisers ended the campaign by thanking the new world champions for defeating the South American side. (PC: NDTV)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced fast-track courts to ensure swift punishment for those involved in paper leak cases, calling the protection of students' future a top priority. The announcement, made 34 days after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) launched nationwide protests, received support from BJP leaders, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman. However, the Opposition dismissed the move as inadequate. Rahul Gandhi, AAP leaders and other opposition parties demanded Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, while CJP said systemic reforms and accountability were more important than post-facto punishment. The party also announced nationwide protests on July 24. (PC: HT)