Opposition debates focus as Parliament session nears amid NEET leak and Ram Mandir claims

No precedent of Education Ministers resigning over paper leaks in the pastExamination paper leaks are not a new phenomenon in India. Almost every major state has faced the problem, but Education Ministers have never accepted responsibility and resigned. In Uttar Pradesh, State PSC examination papers were reportedly leaked in 2011 and 2015, while INPSC papers were leaked in 2012. In Rajasthan, REET papers were allegedly leaked in 2015, and the Rajasthan SI recruitment examination was also reportedly leaked in 2023. These are only a few examples, but neither the Chief Minister nor the Education Minister resigned.Parliament unlikely to function smoothlyAll indications suggest that the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament is unlikely to function smoothly. The Opposition is expected to continue raising issues related to the NEET paper leak, the alleged theft of Ram Mandir donations, and the alleged firing on protesters in Delhi. It is demanding a debate on these issues on its own terms, which the ruling dispensation is unlikely to accept, raising the possibility of a prolonged stalemate.Govt likely to secure passage of pending Bills amid chaosDespite the expected disruptions during the Monsoon Session, the ruling party is aiming to secure parliamentary approval for at least half a dozen key Bills. According to indications, these legislations could be passed amid the ongoing chaos in the House.Will Kiren Rijiju be the govt’s envoy to persuade Sonam Wangchuk to end his fast?Political circles are abuzz with speculation that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju may step in on behalf of the Union government to persuade climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike. Wangchuk's fast has entered its 25th day, increasing pressure on the Centre amid widespread outrage over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.While Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh recently visited Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital, reports suggest Rijiju, as Parliamentary Affairs Minister, could play a pivotal role in formalising official discussions. The Centre has expressed its willingness to debate the examination controversy in Parliament, placing Rijiju's ministry at the centre of legislative engagement.Meanwhile, Wangchuk has laid down clear conditions for ending his fast, seeking a firm government assurance that young student protesters will not face legal action or police retaliation. As Opposition leaders and civil society representatives continue to urge him to prioritise his health, attention remains focused on whether Rijiju or another senior minister will provide the assurances needed to end the standoff. WEST BENGAL: Youngest Collectors of the StateIAS officers Kuhuk Bhushan, District Magistrate of Kalimpong, and Akanksha Bhaskar, District Magistrate of Jhargram, are the youngest District Collectors in West Bengal. Both, born in 1990, belong to the 2015 batch of the West Bengal cadre.Govt names MP Chief Secretary Anurag Jain as CEO of NITI AayogThe Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of senior IAS officer and Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Anurag Jain (1989 batch, MP cadre) as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog.The appointment will take effect from the date Jain assumes charge. He will serve for two years or until further orders, including his approved extension in service, and will continue on the same terms and conditions as his predecessor.The appointment is being viewed as a significant leadership transition at the government's premier public policy think tank.IAS Ashok Barnwal is new Chief Secretary of Madhya PradeshSenior IAS officer Ashok Barnwal has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh. He is a 1991 batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre.Susanta Kumar Nath also in race for Odisha DGP?The name of Susanta Kumar Nath is also doing the rounds for the post of Director General of Police (DGP), Odisha. He is a 1993 batch IPS officer.Interview for Member, CBIC on July 28The Committee of Secretaries (CoS) will conduct interviews for the post of Member, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), on July 28. A woman IRS officer is said to be leading the race.PM Modi chairs second high-level meeting with SecretariesPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting with Secretaries in New Delhi to review the progress of rural development, agriculture, social welfare and allied sectors towards the Viksit Bharat goals. This was the second such meeting held in July. Modi said reforms centred on people's needs should gather momentum and deliver meaningful transformation.Who gave lathi-charge permission to RAF?Delhi Police is reportedly unhappy with the RAF's action on July 20, in which several protesting students were injured. It is now trying to ascertain who authorised the Rapid Action Force (RAF) to take action against the protesters.R K Prajapati to join as Director, DPIITRakesh Kumar Prajapati has been appointed as Director in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Central Staffing Scheme for a period of five years. He is a 2012 batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre.Zenia Gupta is Director, Corporate AffairsMs Zenia Gupta has been selected for appointment as Director in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for a period of five years. She is a 2010 batch Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer.Satovisha Samajdar to assume charge as Director, NHRCMs Satovisha Samajdar has been appointed as Director in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Delhi, under the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Central Staffing Scheme for a period of five years. She is a 2010 batch Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre.Karthika Kumar is IFA, SSBMs Karthika J Kumar has been selected for appointment as Integrated Financial Adviser (IFA) at the Deputy Secretary level in the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Central Staffing Scheme for a period of four years. She is a 2014 batch Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) officer.Cadre of UP IPS officer Anjali Vishwakarma transferred to ChhattisgarhThe cadre of Ms Anjali Vishwakarma has been transferred from Uttar Pradesh to Chhattisgarh following her marriage to IPS officer Udit Pushkar. She is a 2021 batch IPS officer.K. Krishna Kumar is DG (RHS), Railway BoardDr K. Krishna Kumar, currently serving as Principal Chief Medical Director (PCMD), Northern Railway, has been appointed as Director General (Railway Health Services) [DG (RHS)] in the Railway Board. He is an Indian Railway Health Service (IRHS) officer.Will Surajit Mondal be new CMD, TCIL?Surajit Mondal is likely to be selected as the new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL). He is currently serving as Executive Director in the organisation. Interviews are expected to be held on July 31.PESB recommends Daya Nand for Director (Projects), TCLThe Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recommended the name of Daya Nand Katyayan, Senior General Manager (Business Area Head, Faridabad), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), for appointment as Director (Projects), Telecommunications Consultants (India) Limited (Schedule A). 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Opposition strategy split: Student protests vs Ram Mandir allegationsAs the upcoming Parliament session begins, divisions continue to fracture the opposition's core strategy. Key bloc leaders remain locked in a heated debate over whether to corner the ruling government on the Ram Mandir corruption allegations or focus primarily on the ongoing student protests. While the alleged temple land deal scandal offers a direct and specific charge against the government, several party strategists argue that student grievances have far greater socio-economic resonance among young voters across the country.However, the push to make student demonstrations the opposition's central issue has faced resistance from within its own ranks. Internal critics have expressed concern over the unpredictable nature of the protests, warning that aligning too closely with unorganised student groups could backfire if the demonstrations turn volatile or lose public sympathy.Political parties race to claim creditLutyens' Delhi has witnessed protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the past few days. The agitation has been organised by the CJP. As the protests gathered momentum, opposition parties gradually extended their support. They are now competing to claim credit for the movement, with leaders openly criticising one another's actions.Another security breach?Another security lapse was witnessed during the ongoing CJP protest when the Leader of the Opposition and several other leaders reached the Prime Minister's residence and staged a sit-in protest. They were later detained by the police. Earlier, despite elaborate security arrangements, protesters had managed to reach areas close to Parliament on Monday.BUREAUCRACYHaryana gets youngest CollectorIAS officer Abhishek Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Rewari district, is the youngest Collector in Haryana. Born in 1994, Meena belongs to the 2016 batch of the Haryana cadre.Will Sarangi be Odisha's next DGP?According to informed sources, senior-most IPS officer Sudhanshu Sarangi is leading the race for the post of Director General of Police in Odisha. A 1990-batch IPS officer, Sarangi has also been empanelled for the rank of Director General in the Government of India.Captain Shivani becomes first woman ADC to Army ChiefCaptain Shivani Sehrawat has been appointed as the first woman Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Chief of the Army Staff, General Dhiraj Seth.Government sets three-month deadline for top CPSE appointmentsThe government has directed ministries to fill vacancies for top posts, including Chairpersons-cum-Managing Directors and Directors in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), within three months to prevent leadership gaps that could delay key projects.What went wrong in the last three months?Questions continue to surround the final three months of outgoing Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golchha's tenure. According to top sources, Golchha's name had emerged as a leading contender for the post of CBI Director in May. At the time, indications suggested that either incumbent CBI Director Praveen Sood would receive an extension or the 1993-batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer, Satish Golchha, would head the agency. BSNL advertises Director (HR) postThe Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has invited applications for the post of Director (Human Resources) at Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). The last date for submitting applications is August 11, 2026.BHEL to interview candidates for Director (HR) on July 28Interviews for the post of Director (Human Resources) at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) are scheduled to be held on July 28. Around 10 candidates have been shortlisted.India exports Akash SAM systems to Central AsiaIndia has exported its indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, strengthening the country's defence exports and strategic presence in Central Asia. Former DRDO Chief Dr. Samir V. Kamat confirmed the deals. The medium-range Akash system is capable of intercepting aircraft, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles.Suvarna Kevale appointed Lokayukta member in MaharashtraJudicial officer Suvarna Kevale has been appointed as a Member of the Lokayukta, an important judicial institution in Maharashtra.Vandana Singh to head Land Management wing at DDAMs Vandana Singh has been appointed as Commissioner (Land Management) at the Deputy Secretary level in the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Appointed under the Central Staffing Scheme, she will serve a four-year tenure. She is a 2013-batch IAS officer of the Uttarakhand cadre.Meena Bisht appointed Director, School Education & LiteracyMs Meena Bisht has been selected as Director in the Department of School Education & Literacy, Delhi, under the Central Staffing Scheme for a period of five years. She is a 2012-batch officer of the Indian Audit & Accounts Service.Julia Mahapatra posted to Department of PostsMs Julia Mahapatra has been posted to the Department of Posts. She is a Senior Administrative Grade (SAG)-level officer and belongs to the Indian Postal & Telegraph Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS).Two ITS officers report to DoT headquartersTwo Indian Telecommunication Service (ITS) officers — Om Prakash Jangir and Sanjay Kumar Madhukar — have reported to the Department of Telecommunications headquarters and are awaiting their new assignments.Customs Superintendent promoted as Assistant CommissionerKrishna Pada Das, Superintendent of Customs (Preventive), has been promoted on an ad hoc basis to the post of Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Taxes against the vacancy year 2018. The promotion has been granted notionally with effect from December 24, 2020.MEA invites applications for Consultant postThe Ministry of External Affairs has advertised the post of Consultant for its D&ISA Division. Applications can be submitted via email at aopfsec@mea.gov.in by July 31, 2026.National Water Mission extends application deadlineThe National Water Mission has extended the last date for applying for the post of Advisor (Coordination & Monitoring) under the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation. Applications can be sent to dirsm@nic.in and useosm1@nic.in until the revised deadline of August 13, 2026.RVNL seeks Senior DGMs (Electrical)Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has invited applications for two posts of Senior Deputy General Manager (Electrical) on deputation, one each for Kolkata and Ranchi. Details are available on www.rvnl.org. Applications must reach by August 18, 2026.Tourism Ministry hiring PMUSD officersThe Ministry of Tourism is inviting applications for the posts of Project Associate and Executive Assistant for the Programme Monitoring Unit Skill Development (PMUSD) on a contractual basis. Interested candidates can visit www.iittm.ac.in and email their applications to director@iittm.ac.in by July 31, 2026. Ayush Ministry invites applications for CCRAS DG postThe Ministry of Ayush has invited applications for the post of Director General, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS). The last date for submitting applications is July 26, 2026.RAV Project Manager interviews likely on August 5Interviews for the post of Project Manager at Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (RAV) are likely to be held on August 5, 2026. Further details are available with the Ministry of Ayush.Applications invited for Whole-Time Member at IFSCAThe Department of Economic Affairs has invited applications for the post of Whole-Time Member in the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). Applications must reach by August 14, 2026.NCVET advertises Consultant (Accounts/Finance) postThe National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), New Delhi, has advertised the contractual post of Consultant (Accounts/Finance). The last date for submitting applications is August 7, 2026. (DISCLAIMER: Correctness of this content is the responsibility of the author. By arrangement with whispersinthecorridors.com)