Wangchuk breaks 26-day fast as PM reaches out to students

Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike late on Thursday night, a protest that demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over irregularities in the NEET examination. The fast concluded even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised that the government would address the paper leak issue during Friday’s Cabinet meeting. In a late-night video message posted on his social media accounts, the Prime Minister stated that more strict actions against paper leaks would be taken in the upcoming meeting.

Modi assured the public that a bill would be brought to Parliament next week. The Opposition rejected the government’s offer to hold a debate on the paper leaks, insisting that any discussion must wait until Pradhan resigns. Later in the evening, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi led members of the INDIA bloc in a symbolic march to Gandhi Smriti, expressing solidarity with the students protesting the irregularities.

While the focus in India remained on domestic policy and student activism, trade relations took a sharp turn elsewhere. The United States announced on Friday that it would impose 10% tariffs on goods imported from India and 16 other nations. The move, directed by President Donald Trump, targets countries that have failed to effectively enforce a ban on goods produced with forced labor.

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Trade Tensions and Global Security

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer imposed the tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. This decision affects 60 economies and replaces an earlier global duty that was set to expire. The levies range from 10% to 12.5% and impact major economies, including China and the European Union.

On the diplomatic front, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the 21st East Asia Summit in Manila on Thursday. He emphasized that international waterways must remain safe and unimpeded. Jaishankar also called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis in the Persian Gulf and to find a political solution for the civil conflict in Myanmar.

Separately, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a resolution to halt military action in Iran. The 214-208 vote sent a signal to President Trump as congressional support appears to be chipping away amid the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been invited to the BRICS summit scheduled for September 12 and 13 in Delhi.

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Back in India, the government reported progress on digitizing property records. The Ministry of Minority Affairs informed the Lok Sabha that more than 6.17 lakh Waqf properties have been validated and approved on the UMEED Central Portal-2025. The initiative aims to streamline the management of these assets, with 7,99,978 properties initiated for uploading as of July 17.

The NEET controversy highlights a recurring tension in India’s education system. When high-stakes exams are managed by a centralized authority, the potential for systemic failures increases, often leaving students and their families in a state of prolonged uncertainty. The government’s response, which includes promises of stricter oversight and legislative action, will be closely watched to see if it translates into lasting reform rather than temporary damage control.

Activist Amit Bhatnagar also suspended his hunger strike after 18 days. Bhatnagar had been protesting the Ken-Betwa river linking project in Madhya Pradesh. He ended his fast after receiving assurances from the government regarding the rehabilitation of displaced people. The protest had faced police intervention, with a demonstration site dismantled on the banks of the Barana river.