Modi Establishes Fast-Track Courts Amid NEET Paper Leak Protests

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the establishment of fast-track courts and a draft Bill to impose harsher punishments for examination paper leaks following massive youth-led protests. The legislative move, approved by the Union Cabinet on July 25, 2026, amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, introducing jail terms up to 10 years and fines up to ₹10 crore for organized rackets. The courts aim to resolve leak cases within three to five months.

The unrest, spearheaded by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), centers on the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and systemic failures in the education sector. Tensions peaked on July 20 during a 'Sansad Chalo' march in New Delhi, where Delhi Police used tear gas, batons, and pellet guns to disperse thousands of demonstrators, resulting in approximately 178 injuries to both protesters and police. The agitation led to a legislative deadlock in Parliament, with the INDIA bloc and other opposition parties demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as a non-negotiable prerequisite for any formal debate.

To defuse the situation, the government negotiated with activist Sonam Wangchuk, who ended a 26-day hunger strike on July 24 after receiving written assurances for parliamentary discussions, compensation for student suicide victims, and the withdrawal of FIRs against peaceful protesters. Despite these concessions, the CJP and opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, continue to demand Pradhan's removal, describing the government's legal measures as a distraction from administrative accountability.