News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants
Source: The Hindu , Indian Express and others

PM reaches out to students; Sonam Wangchuk ends fast

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET irregularities, ended his fast late on Thursday (July 24, 2026) night. The move came even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a late-night video message posted on his X and Instagram accounts, promised that the government would discuss NEET paper leaks in Friday’s (July 24) Cabinet meeting and would bring a Bill in Parliament next week. “More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow’s Cabinet [meeting],” Mr. Modi said in his post.

CJP rejects Centre’s talk offer and calls for nationwide protest on July 24 against police brutality

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called for nationwide peaceful protests on Friday (July 24, 2026) against the police brutality on students in Delhi on July 20, shortly after rejecting the Centre's offer to hold talks at J.P. Nadda’s residence or office. The CJP reiterated that talks must be held at Jantar Mantar or a neutral venue.

Government to set up fast-track courts for paper leak cases, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday (July 23, 2026) that the government has decided to set up fast-track courts for paper leak cases. Mr. Modi stated in a post on X, “We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks,” in his first direct comments tied to major protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on the NEET-UG paper leak. The Opposition, across political parties, reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance of setting up fast-track courts for paper leak cases, insisting on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

Social activist Anna Hazare undertakes ‘maun andolan’ to support protesting students

Social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday (July 23, 2026) observed a two-hour-long maun andolan (silent protest) at Ahilyanagar in Maharashtra to extend his support for protesting students in Delhi. “Anna began his protest at 11 a.m. and ended it at 1 p.m.,” the social activist’s aide Datta Awari told PTI. In a letter to PM Modi, Mr. Hazare said the resentment of the protesters must be viewed “not as a law and order problem, but as the agony and expectations of society”.

Supreme Court may step in if closure of metro stations persists, says CJI

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Thursday (July 23, 2026) indicated that the Supreme Court may consider taking up, on the judicial side, the issue of the closure of Delhi metro stations, particularly the Supreme Court Metro station, if the authorities fail to address the difficulties faced by lawyers and court staff in accessing the court premises. The observation came after Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas Singh flagged the inconvenience caused by the closure of the station. He suggested that, instead of shutting it completely, lawyers and Registry officials be allowed access after verification of their identity cards and security screening at the exit gates.

No debate without Pradhan’s resignation, Opposition tells govt. as it hits the streets

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.

Activist on hunger strike over Ken-Betwa river link project ends fast after 18 days

Activist Amit Bhatnagar, who had been on a hunger strike against the Ken-Betwa river linking project for 18 days, suspended his fast on Thursday (July 23, 2026) after the government’s assurance to include the people left out of the rehabilitation process. After breaking his fast, Mr. Bhatnagar said that he took the decision as several tribal women who had been part of the protest had also stopped eating since July 19, when the police forcibly took him to a hospital and dismantled the demonstration site on the banks of the Barana river in Kupi village of Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district. He had been in the Chhatarpur district hospital since then and continued his fast.

U.S. slaps 10% tariffs on goods imported from India over issue forced labour

The U.S. imposed 10% tariffs on goods purchased from India and 16 other countries over the issue of the use of forced labour in the production of such items. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the new tariffs on 60 countries under Section 301 of the Trade Act on Friday (July 24, 2026), a day before the expiration of 10% additional levies on all countries. The USTR statement said that Mr. Greer had taken the final action, at President Donald Trump’s direction, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 by imposing tariffs on 60 economies for their failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.

Over 6.17 lakh Waqf properties approved on UMEED portal

The Ministry of Minority Affairs informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) that more than 6.17 lakh Waqf properties have been successfully validated and approved on the UMEED Central Portal-2025 as part of the government’s ongoing initiative to digitise and streamline Waqf property records. Responding to an unstarred question raised by All India Trinamool Congress MP Sajda Ahmed, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that 7,99,978 Waqf properties had been initiated for uploading to the UMEED portal as of July 17, 2026.

Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman invited to BRICS summit in Delhi

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been invited to participate in the BRICS summit that will be held here on September 12 and 13, according to Shama Obaid, Bangladeshi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Rahman has received an invitation from the Indian government to be a guest at the BRICS summit, Ms. Obaid told journalists in Dhaka on Thursday (July 23, 2026).

U.S. unveils new tariffs on 60 partners as Trump rebuilds trade agenda

The United States said Thursday (July 23, 2026) that it would impose new tariffs on 60 trading partners over forced labour concerns, replacing an expiring global duty rolled out by President Donald Trump earlier this year. The levies, which take effect Friday (July 24, 2026), range from 10% to 12.5% and impact major economies like China, India and the European Union.

U.S. House of Representatives again passes resolution seeking to halt military action in Iran as some Republicans defect

The House on Thursday (July 23, 2026) narrowly passed a resolution to halt U.S. military action in Iran, sending a warning to President Donald Trump for the second time as the war has escalated and the future of the conflict is increasingly uncertain. The 214-208 vote requiring congressional approval for the war comes as the Senate is expected to consider a similar resolution later Thursday (July 23) morning. Though the votes forced by Democrats are largely symbolic, they are meant as a strong signal to the Republican President that his support on Capitol Hill is chipping away as the war drags on and lawmakers in both parties have questioned his administration’s endgame.

International waterways must remain safe and unimpeded: S. Jaishankar

Participating in the 21st East Asia Summit in Manila, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Thursday (July 23, 2026), that the global maritime channels “must remain safe and unimpeded”. In the meeting, Mr. Jaishankar also called for dialogue and diplomacy in dealing with the crisis in the Persian Gulf region and for finding a “political solution” to the civil conflict in Myanmar, where Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) have been challenging the authority of the military junta that took power in February 2021.

Houthis strike tankers in Red Sea; first since Saudi-linked shipping blockade via Bab el-Mandeb

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said early Thursday (July 23, 2026) they had attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, and the U.S. military conducted a 12th night of strikes against Iran as the two countries vie for control of vital shipping lanes. U.S. Central Command said its strikes were designed to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters,” as the Americans push to regain control over the Strait of Hormuz and restore the flow of international shipping.

Houses of two terrorists ‘blasted’ after Anantnag attack

Security forces on Thursday (July 23, 2026) allegedly blasted and demolished two residential houses of local terrorists in south Kashmir, a day after a policeman was shot dead in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag. Meanwhile, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said mass arrests and demolitions “will not restore peace” and such demolitions go against the directions put in place by the Supreme Court. Official sources said an operation was launched around 3 a.m. when multiple teams reached Anantnag’s Guri village and Hassanpora Tawella. Locals alleged the security forces used explosives to demolish the houses after asking the inmates to leave the structures.

Sikkim tunnel disaster: 22 bodies recovered; search and rescue ops continue for remaining victims

Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of 22 people killed in the “explosive release of suspected methane gas” in a headrace tunnel of the NHPC’s Teesta-VI Hydropower Project in Sikkim’s Namchi district on July 20. Officials said the search and recovery operations for the remaining victims, estimated to be at least three, continue.

India slams Pakistan at UN over cross-border terrorism; says Kashmir integral, inalienable part

India has strongly rejected Pakistan’s remarks at the United Nations, asserting that cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) cannot be expected when ‘cross-border terrorism’ is used as an ‘instrument of state policy’. India also maintained that Jammu and Kashmir ‘has always been, is, and will remain’ an integral and inalienable part of the country. India’s sharp rebuttal came after Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, accused New Delhi of ‘weaponising water’ by placing the IWT in abeyance, calling the move ‘illegal’ and claiming it threatened the livelihoods of more than 240 million Pakistanis.

Israelis fear Saudi nuclear deal could ignite West Asia arms race

A deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia allowing the kingdom to ​build nuclear reactors using American technology and to enrich uranium ‌has fuelled fears in Israel of the start of ​an arms race in West Asia. The agreement, ⁠which still needs Congressional approval, that was announced on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) is meant to allow the Saudis to develop a civilian nuclear programme. “The ⁠nuclear agreement that is coming together with ⁠Saudi Arabia, over Israel’s head, is a serious strategic failure that endangers our security,” said former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who is seeking to unseat Mr. ​Netanyahu in an October ‌27 election. “Nuclear enrichment on Saudi soil could lead to a regional nuclear race and a dangerous loss of control.”

India sends 4.5 tonnes of medical aid to Kenya to boost Ebola preparedness

India has delivered the first tranche of medical assistance to Kenya to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response to the Ebola virus and other infectious diseases, according to an official statement. The first consignment, weighing 4.5 tonnes, was handed over by Indian High Commissioner Adarsh Swaika to Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, the Indian High Commission said in the statement.

Rubio meets Lavrov in Manila, says U.S. committed to helping end Ukraine war

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday (July 23, 2026) that the ​United States remains prepared to play a “constructive role” in helping ‌bring an end to the war in Ukraine, ​following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ⁠on the side lines of an ASEAN gathering in Manila. Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Rubio said President Donald Trump had made clear ‌that the United States was prepared to help facilitate an end to a “senseless war” ‌if the opportunity arose. He said Washington had conveyed ‌that ⁠message to Moscow while declining to characterise Russia’s ⁠position during the talks.